Gandhi Sagar Becomes New Home for India's Reintroduced Cheetahs

India's cheetah reintroduction program has reached a milestone with the relocation of two male cheetahs from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. The cheetahs will roam freely within a fenced area before being released into a 64 sq. km soft-release zone. Challenges remain, including managing leopard populations and balancing ecosystems with human lives. More cheetahs from Africa are expected later this year, with all eyes on Gandhi Sagar.

India's ambitious Project Cheetah has taken a significant step forward with the recent relocation of two male cheetahs from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. This move marks a strategic expansion of the project, aimed at establishing a meta-population across a larger landscape and addressing the overcrowding and mortality concerns at Kuno National Park [1].

The Cheetah Project Steering Committee, constituted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), approved the relocation to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary, located on the border of Mandsaur and Neemuch districts in Madhya Pradesh, offers a diverse ecosystem with a rich prey base, including chinkara, chousingha, nilgai, and chital [2]. The sanctuary's dry deciduous forest and semi-arid climate provide a suitable habitat for cheetahs, complementing the grasslands and scrub forests of Kuno National Park.

The relocation of the two male cheetahs is part of a broader strategy to manage the cheetah population and ensure their long-term survival. The cheetahs will initially roam freely within a fenced area before being gradually released into a 64 sq. km soft-release zone. This phased approach aims to minimize stress and facilitate a smoother adaptation to their new environment.

However, several challenges remain. The sanctuary must be equipped with adequate prey and low anthropogenic pressure to support a healthy cheetah population. Additionally, better health surveillance and acclimatization measures are necessary to prevent the past occurrences of mortality. Furthermore, the proximity of human habitations poses a risk of human-wildlife conflict, which will require careful management [2].

The success of this relocation is crucial for the future of India's cheetah reintroduction program. It provides an opportunity to monitor the adaptability of cheetahs across different habitats and inform future conservation strategies. More cheetahs from Africa are expected later this year, with all eyes on the progress and outcomes at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

References:
[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/cheetahs-to-be-introduced-at-gandhi-sagar-wildlife-sanctuary-on-april-20-mp-cm-mohan-yadav/articleshow/120409010.cms
[2] https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/shifting-cheetahs-from-kuno-park-to-gandhi-sagar