Context:
Recently, five more cheetahs were released into Kuno National Park.
Kuno National Park (KNP):
- Location – Vindhyan Hills in Madhya Pradesh.
- Kuno River (tributary of the Chambal River) bisects the National Park.
- Offers the prospect of housing 4 big cats of India– Tiger, Lion, Leopard and Cheetah
- Tribal Settlements – Sahariya (dominant), Jatav, Brahmin, Gurjar, Kushwaha and Yadav.
- It falls under falls under Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forest eco-region.
- Vegetation – Kardhai, Khair and Salai trees.
- Fauna – Spotted deer, Sambar, Nilgai, Barking deer
Project Cheetah:
- 1st proposed by Indian conservationists & Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 2009; Approved by Supreme Court in 2020 as a pilot project
- Aim – To reintroduce at least 50 cheetahs over next five years.
- World’s 1st inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.
- Nodal Agency – National Tiger Conservation Authority
- A statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- Proposed Relocation Sites –
- Madhya Pradesh: Kuno National Park, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhav National Park, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary
- Rajasthan: Mukundara Tiger Reserve, Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) Kanha National Park
(b) Manas National Park
(c) Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
(d) Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary
Answer: (a)