State to pitch for getting African cheetah after SC nod to introduction
JAIPUR: With the Supreme Court allowing introduction of African cheetah in India, Rajasthan is all set to pitch for getting the world’s fastest animal to the state.
Shahgarh Bulge in Jaisalmer was among the top sites identified in 2010 by an expert panel constituted by the central government to reintroduce cheetah in India. Though the apex court has asked for conducting a fresh survey, with historic presence of cheetah in the state and availability of a suitable habitat, Rajasthan would have an edge.
Rajasthan forest minister Sukhram Vishnoi said, “All our efforts will be to get cheetah introduced in the state. I will discuss the issue with the officials and take it forward.”
On January 28, the Supreme Court allowed the Centre to introduce the African cheetah to a suitable habitat in India, including Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh, almost 10 years after the plan was envisaged by then environment minister Jairam Ramesh and put on hold by the apex court. The court gave the go-head while hearing an application filed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority seeking permission for the introduction of the African cheetah from Namibia.
Principal chief conservator of forests GV Reddy said, “Certainly, we want to bring cheetah to Rajasthan. I consider it to be the most potential state for hosting cheetah. It will also add to our tourism portfolio, help in conservation and improve livelihood of local people.”
Asked about possible sites in the state to introduce cheetah, he said there are places in Barmer and Jaisalmer. “With Rajasthan being the biggest state and availability of dry and plain grassland, the state has the maximum potential,” he said. “Shahgarh Bulge was also a potential site but it needs to be revisited.”
The cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat of the Felinae subfamily that is found in North, Southern and East Africa, and a few localities in Iran. It inhabits a variety of mostly arid habitats like dry forests, scrub forests, and savannahs. The species is redlisted as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Forest, as it suffered a substantial decline in its historic range in the 20th century due to habitat loss, poaching for the illegal pet trade, and conflict with humans.
A senior forest official on anonymity said Shahgarh Bulge in Jaisalmer was among the top three sites identified in 2010 by the expert panel. “But it needs to be reassessed, as earlier there was no population but now it has, which needs to be relocated if the site is considered for introducing cheetah. The then government too had reservation and wrote a letter to the GOI over introducing cheetah as there are oil deposits.”
He said Shahgarh Bulge also has strategic importance to the army. “Like Pokhran firing range, there are considerations to develop it. Besides, if cheetah is introduced here, how can tourism be encouraged as this area is close to the border. Dessert National Park area in Jaisalmer can be good option as it is spread across 3000 sq km and it will also add value to it,” the official said.
On reports about recommendation of Tal Chapar Sanctuary, the official said, “It is not feasible it is spread over only 800 sq km area, which inadequate. A cheetah needs over 2000 sq km area; only one cheetah cannot be left there, there has to be a family.”
Divya Bhanu Sinh, member of the expert committee formed by GOI in 2010 and author of ‘The end of a trail: The Cheetah in India’ book, said, “Wildlife Institute of India did the survey of possible sites to introduce cheetah, where one was Shahgarh Bulge in Jaisalmer; and other two in MP – Kuno Palpur and Nauradehi.” He added Kuno was also selected for lion relocation from Gujarat.
Sinh said the Supreme Court in the orders has cleared constitution of a three-member expert committee comprising former Wildlife Trust of India chairman Mkranjit Sinh, representative of NTCA and WII. The court wants the committee to travel across India for possible sites and submit a report in four months.
“One thing we need to understand why do we need cheetah? It is the only iconic species which can protect the grassland or shrub forest, or else it will be beaten to death,” he said. “The survey was done 10 years back and the location to introduce needs to be reassessed.”
Sinh said Cheetah had their presence in Rajasthan, at Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, and Dholpur. The last cheetah was seen in India in winters of 1967-68 (Surguja and Sidhi) in Madhya Pradesh.
Raza Kazmi, who wrote the journal ‘Asiatic Cheetah in India: A chronology of extinction and related report’ along with Divya Bhanu Sinh, said, “Shahgarh was among the three priority sites identified earlier. The report was submitted in 2011; the predatorprey ratio has changed in last 9 years at the other two places in Madhya Pradesh, and all identified sites need to be relooked.”
WII scientist YV Jhala said Rajasthan was among the top three priority areas selected earlier for introducing cheetah but the entire exercise needs to be done afresh. “Earlier Shahgarh Bulge in Jaisalmer was selected, but then the state government had reservations looking to oil exploration. The exploration would not be requiring more than 100 sqkm area and it also does not require status of national park. There is no permanent human settlement in this location.”
The other two sites identified were Kuno Palpur and Nauradehi in Madhya Pradesh.
On Dessert National Park as other possibility, Jhala said, “There is human settlement there and forestland is only of 300 sqkm and rest is revenue land.”
Additional director feneral, NTCA, Anup Kumar Nayak said the court has directed to form a committee that will visit places to find potential site to introduce cheetah. “Our job is to facilitate them with all support and logistics. We are keen to bring the African cheetah,” he said.