- This is the second litter of cheetah cubs to be born in the country since the start of Project Cheetah.
- Till now, there were 15 cheetahs at KNP and the tally now stands at 18.
Under Project Cheetah, 20 Cheetahs were translocated from Namibia (8) and South Africa (12) to KNP, Madhya Pradesh.
- The cheetah was declared extinct in India by 1952, the only large carnivore species that went extinct in Independent India.
- Objective: To establish viable cheetah metapopulation in India that allows cheetah to perform its functional role as top predator.
- Implementing Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- Funding: From Project Tiger as well as Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA).
Progress so far: Out of 6 criteria for assessing short-term success, the project has already met 4 criteria namely:
- 50% survival of introduced cheetahs,
- Establishment of home ranges,
- Birth of cubs in Kuno, and
- Revenue to local communities.
Challenges: fatalities, lack of space and prey at KNP, etc.
About: Cheetah, world’s fastest mammal, is a keystone species of dry forests, scrub forests, and Savannahs
- Protected under Appendix 1 of CITES.
- IUCN status: African cheetah (Vulnerable), Asiatic cheetah (Critically endangered)
National Tiger Conservation Authority
Genesis: Established in 2006 as a Statutory Body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Organizational Structure: Chaired by the Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change and the Minister of State for Environment acts as a Vice Chairman.
Functions: Providing ground protection initiatives to science-based monitoring of tigers, cheetah and their habitat. Fostering accountability of Center-State in management of Tiger Reserves.