By The Editor
Four-footed animals like an African lion, a Bengal tiger and a South American jaguar are members of the cat family that are experÂt trackers and hunters and belong to the order Carnivora the meat-eating mammals. The cheetah differs from most other cats in several ways and is the swiftest of all land animals capable of running at a speed of about 70miles an hour while chasing its prey. Full-grown cheetahs are sometimes captured and trained as hunting animals. Handsome leopard, much smaller than either lion or tiger, is considered the most dangerous cat of all and is skill climber. People used to complain that big cats kill other animals including domesticated ones for food and so are a nuisance. But they serve as important checks in balance of nature because without them there will be increase of rodents, hoofed mammals, and other plant-eaters which destroy crops and useful plants for human consumption. In India, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 had been passed for protection of endangered species like tiger, elephants, rhinoceros, lions, etc. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been empowered under the Act to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders. Central Government provides technical assistance as well as financial health to states and Union Territories in management of protected areas for habitat and conservation of wildlife.
Cheetahs had lived and thrived in India for thousands of years but during the British Raj they were declared as predators that destroyed the environment and danger to human lives and so they had declared a reward for killing cheetahs in the year 1871. The last cheetah was killed in 1947 in Chhattisgarh, Central India. Since then there was no effort to create awareness to people on significance of wild animals to society and hence neither attempt was made to revive them. The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government under guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the initiative for conservation and protection of big cat families including cheetahs by setting target. First batch of eight cheetahs from Namibia, South West Africa arrived in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022. Kuno National Park (KNP) covers an area of 748 square kilometers with buffer area of 1235 square kilometers where river Kuno flows in the middle. There are hills which are not very steep and it adjoins with the boundary of Panna Tiger Reserve in South East. Weather is suitable for cheetahs and for other animals like chinkara, wild boar, chital, nilgai and sambar which reside along them. On February 18, 12 cheetahs from South Africa arrived in Madhya Pradesh and were released at KNP.
Wildlife Institute of India prepared programme for conservation of cheetahs about seven years back with a budget of Rs 260 crore. Based on scientific assessments, KNP was chosen for preservation of cheetahs and it was decided to have 50 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa over next five years under Project Cheetah. This programme will help in improving ecosystem processes and biodiversity conservation.