African cheetah may fill void left by Indian cousin
NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Centre to take a call on the introduction of the African cheetah to a suitable habitat in India, including Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh, almost 10 years after the plan was first envisaged by the then environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, and subsequently put on hold by the apex court. The last Indian cheetah was hunted to extinction around 70 years ago.
The court issued the direction while hearing an application filed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), seeking permission for the introduction of the African cheetah from Namibia.
The apex court also set up a three-member committee, comprising former chairman of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) MK Ranjitsinh, a retired Indian Forest Service officer, and an official from the environment ministry, to guide NTCA in taking a decision.
A bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde, and justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant, said the apex court will monitor the project and asked the
committee to submit a report every four months on the reintroduction. The top court also said the decision for relocation of the African cheetah would be taken after a proper survey and the action of introduction of the animal will be left to NTCA’s discretion. The cheetah will be introduced on an experimental basis in the best suitable habitat to see whether it can adapt to Indian conditions, the court said.
In 2012, the Supreme Court was informed about the environment ministry’s decision to import African cheetah from Namibia and introduce them at Kuno during the hearing of a case related to transferring lions from Gir National Park to Kuno Palpur, an alternative site suggested for Asiatic lions. Senior counsel PS Narasimha, then serving as the Amicus Curiae in the matter, had told the court that the decision to introduce African cheetahs in Kuno, a habitat chosen for re-introduction of Asiatic lions, had not been placed before the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife. The court, in 2013, quashed the ministry’s order as no detailed feasibility study on possible habitats was conducted. On Tuesday, it revived the relocation following NTCA application. On Tuesday, it revived the relocation project following NTCA application.