Importing African Cheetahs

Why in News?

The Supreme Court (SC) has recently given a green signal to introduction of African Cheetahs in a suitable area in India.

What is the story behind?

• This signal has revived a decade-long debate over the controversial plan first floated in 2009 and shot down by the SC in 2013.
• Cheetahs are the only large carnivore to have gone extinct in India.
• In 2009, the then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh cleared a proposal to import a few cheetahs back in the Indian wild.

• At a 2009 meeting, the Namibia-based Cheetah Conservation Fund offered to help bring in African cheetahs in stages over the next decade, possibly starting in early 2012.
• By 2010, India’s cheetah plan was ready and the Centre approved Rs 50 crore for the programme in 2011.

What were the obstacles?

• The matter of import came up before the SC during a hearing on shifting few lions from Gujarat to Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh.
• It was also one of the sites identified for releasing Cheetahs.
• In 2012, the SC stayed the cheetah plan and in 2013, it ordered translocation of lions while quashing the plan to introduce African cheetahs to Kuno-Palpur.
• The cheetah plan was revived in 2017 when the government sought the SC permission to explore possibilities to reintroduce cheetahs from Africa to suitable sites other than Kuno-Palpur.

Which place will be the first host?

• In April 2013, the SC had set a 6-month deadline for trans-locating lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh.
• Instead, the 3^rd National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031) released in 2017 said that the identification of an alternative home for the Asiatic lion will be completed during 2018-2021.
• Then, Kuno resurfaced as a potential cheetah site in the court.
• But, much of its grasslands have naturally progressed to woodlands, they are not suitable for the African import.
• In the sanctuary, there is barely any presence of the four-horned antelope, chinkara or blackbuck - potential prey for the cheetah.
• Nauradehi in Madhya Pradesh will be the host to the first batch of imported animals, as other sites were not feasible.

What is the argument against this host place?

• Wolves are the keystone species in Nauradehi and would have to compete with cheetahs.
• The majestic GIB is a potential prey for the cheetah.
• Putting the cheetah in with the bustard cannot be contemplated, because of the threat to this most gravely endangered bird.
• The project excluded Jaisalmer’s Desert National Park, a potential host.
• Yet, it recommended erstwhile GIB habitats for the cheetah, in effect denying the bird any chance of habitat recovery.
• There is a lopsided focus on flying in an exotic species as a replacement for what was long gone, at the cost of undermining the future of an indigenous species that is still around.
• This is one of the reasons why the SC scrapped this plan in 2013.

What could be done?

• The GIB is not the only species staring down the barrel.
• The government has identified 20 others species that need immediate help to survive and it should work on protecting them.
• A three-member expert panel will examine the issues for the government to reach a considered decision on the importing issue.
• Meanwhile, as the policy dash for the fastest land animal is being cheered, the lions are running out of time.
• They also need to be given importance.

Source: The Indian Express