Context:
Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary being developed as 2nd home for Cheetahs.
- Translocation is under the Project Cheetah through which the first slots of 20 Cheetahs were introduced in Kuno National Park (KNP) from Namibia and South Africa.
About Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Located along the border between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, spanning over 368.62 sq. km.
- River Chambal flows through the sanctuary and Gandhisagar dam lies within the sanctuary.
- Flora and Fauna: Arjauna and Jal jamun trees along with Panther, Nilgai, Chinkara, wolf, etc.
Factors behind selecting Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary as Cheetahs Home:
- Topography: Due to the rocky terrain and exposed sheetrock, the topsoil is shallow. Topography also includes hills, plateaus, and river catchment areas.
- Ecosystem: It has savanna ecosystem comprising open grasslands interspersed with dry deciduous trees and shrubs. However, Chambal valley is evergreen.
Project Cheetah:
- 1st proposed by – Indian conservationists & Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 2009
- Launched in 2022.
- 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
- 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
National Tiger Conservation Authority:
- A statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- Recommended by – Tiger Task Force (in 2005)
- Constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
About Cheetah:
- A keystone species of dry forests, scrub forests, and savannahs.
- Only large wild mammalian species that went extinct from India.
- Reason for extinct – Overhunting and habitat loss [species was declared extinct in 1952]
- Unlike other big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars) cheetahs don’t roar.
- Protection Status –
- Appendix 1 of CITES
- IUCN status:
- African Cheetah – Vulnerable
- Asiatic Cheetah – Critically endangered
- Major Cheetah range countries – Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya in Africa, and Iran and India in Asia.
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.
Source: Indian Express
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)
