Grasslands in Kutch likely to host cheetahs from Africa

• Some of the next batch of cheetahs being brought in from Africa, as part of the next phase of Project Cheetah, may be sent to a cheetah-breeding and conservation centre being built in the sprawling grasslands of Banni in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, senior officials in the Environment Ministry told The Hindu.

Highlights:

• While the Gandhi Sagar sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is the preferred location for the next lot of wild cats, with Banni being considered a potential habitat for over a decade, officials say there is a surge in activity to set up basic infrastructure in Banni
• However, the Gujarat government is setting up suitable enclosures in Banni where cheetahs can be bred. If all goes to plan, there is no reason (the site) cannot be readied in the next six months and some animals sent there,”
• Banni is a vast grassland in the southern part of Kutch and extends to nearly 3,500 square kilometres. While that is plenty of space, more than that available in Kuno and Gandhi Sagar, there is barely enough prey to sustain a viable population.
• Antelope species such as chinkara and blackbuck — the prey for the cheetah — are present in the Banni landscape but not enough for the big cat.
• “It will take years for enough prey, and practically this means chital the main prey for the cheetahs in India needs to be brought into these grasslands. There isn’t an official plan yet but it is a site that is under consideration”.
• While the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department is tasked with managing the cheetahs at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh, an expert steering committee gives scientific input on managing the programme. This includes recommending future sites for introducing fresh batches of cheetahs at regular intervals.
• Of the 20 adult cheetahs brought to Kuno since September 2022, 13 survive. Additionally there are 13 cubs, making it 26 animals overall.
• However, the maximum capacity (in terms of available prey) of the Kuno reserve is for 21 adult animals.
• The government’s estimate is that India will need to import anywhere between 10 and 12 adult cheetahs every year for the next five years to groom a sustainable breeding population. “One attractive aspect of Banni is that there are no leopards. So with enough prey, we can overtime sustain a larger population. But this is a long-term plan,” an official said.
• In October, all of the cheetahs in Kuno are expected to be released into the wild. Currently, most of them are in the bomas, or large enclosures that are a kilometre wide and long.
• These animals were brought in after infections and acclimatisation problems led to fatalities. Following the release of all the animals into the wild, preparations for the next batch are expected to begin — again from South Africa and Namibia.

Prelims Takeaway:

• Grasslands
• Cheetah