Cheetah Conservation Sites

• Project Cheetah: India’s programme for reintroducing cheetahs after their extinction in India.
• First Site: Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh — the primary site of Project Cheetah.
• Second Site: Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh — developed as the second active cheetah reintroduction site.
• Kuno–Gandhi Sagar Landscape: The two sites are being managed as a metapopulation landscape for long-term cheetah conservation.
• Other Potential Sites: Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) and Banni Grassland (Gujarat) are among the landscapes considered for cheetah conservation.
• Source Countries: Cheetahs have been brought primarily from Namibia and South Africa, with Botswana also contributing animals.
• Species: India’s present programme involves African cheetahs, not the Asiatic subspecies
• Scientific Name: Acinonyx jubatus.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU) globally.

Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Project Cheetah:

1. Kuno National Park is the primary site of Project Cheetah.
2. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is the second active cheetah reintroduction site in India.
3. India’s present reintroduction programme involves the Asiatic cheetah.
4. Botswana has contributed cheetahs to India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a)

Explanation: Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because India’s current programme involves African cheetahs; the Asiatic cheetah survives only in Iran.