India rediscovers its cheetah spots

Nearly 70 years after they went extinct in India, the cheetah returns to the country. Eight big cats, travelling from Namibia, will be released today at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, marking the beginning of a conservation experiment. Success will require addressing risks - survival of the animals, and possibility of increased cheetah-human conflict. Robust monitoring and calibration will be essential. If successful, the benefits to ecology and economy are considerable.



The cheetah went extinct in India due to human pressure, including hunting, and habitat loss. While some of these factors have increased exponentially, the reintroduction can open the door to tackling them in a sustainable manner. Steady fund flow for the project - the fund of Rs 50.22 crore from Indian Oil to kick-start matters - can help with the rewilding and rehabilitation of habitat. The cheetah's hunting style of picking off the weakest prey will likely ensure a revival of biodiversity and restore the natural balance among the animal population. The reintroduction should propel discussions on improving habitats through improved management, rewilding and reconsidering how human activities and intrusions take place. This is an opportunity to essay a new chapter in India's biodiversity management. Regulation will be critical. Improved biodiversity, habitat regeneration and economic opportunities make it a winning proposition.


This reintroduction project is a test of the strength of India's conservation infrastructure and its capacity to strike the right balance between economic benefits and biodiversity. Ensuring areas around KNP emerge as models of sustainable conservation economy will be as much a challenge as keeping the cheetahs safe.