Reintroduction of Cheetahs in India
Found this article on the net... Wonder what the repercussions of this would be... What are your takes on this???
Cheetah experts from across the world are congregating here tomorrow to discuss the strategy to translocate the fastest
animal on earth here in a bid to repopulate the species which was last seen in the country in the 1960s.
"It is an attempt to reintroduce the animal here on the line of tiger relocation plan. We need to do a feasibility study and, if convinced, we will certainly give a go-ahead. Since Iran has already refused to part its animal, we will approach South Africa which has abundant of the species," union environment minister Jairam Ramesh, who will inaugurate the workshop, said
Cheetah experts from Iran, South Africa, Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) besides Wildlife Trust of India which has conceived the animal relocation plan will attend the workshop.
Unlike their Asiatic cousins, African cheetahs stalk prey in semi-arid and partially forested grasslands.
Experts hope their introduction will encourage better husbandry in the areas such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Big cat specialist M. K. Ranjitsinh, the chairman of WTI, said "suitable habitats are abundant in India but are being managed terribly. The cheetah could be an important symbol, a lever to help protect even rarer species in the same areas."
The plan is the brain child of Ranjitsinh and Divyabhanu Chawda and if given the go-ahead by the Environment Ministry Gajner sanctuary might have Cheetah by next year.
The full article can be found at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/n...ow/4987575.cms
No African Cheetahs please.
I have been hearing about bringing cheetah's from Iran for a long time. Finally, that has been dropped as we could not get atleast a pair of Asiatic Cheetahs from Iran. Now, that idea has been twisted and it is being contemplated to get the African cheetah for introduction in India.
I disagree with this idea of introducing African cheetah in India. It is a grand plan like many of the muddle headed large projects. Offlate, we have taken a fancy to large projects - grandiose dreams hog all the attention, however ill conceived they may be. The African Cheetah introduction experiment is one of those.
I agree that the word cheetah has been derived from Sanskrit. However, the African cheetah is an exotic species.
I am surprised by the talk of Asiatic and African cheetah being a single species. Just a few months back our WII scientists had said that tigers should not be brought from Madhya Pradesh to Rajasthan. And a strange reason was given. It was said that they belong to two different species. The jungles of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were contiguous till the last few decades. If a few decades of separation can ensure a species acquire distinct characteristics then I don’t understand why thousands of years of separation can’t make the Asiatic cheetah as a separate species. To those who have forgotten geography, I would like to remind you that Africa and Asia got separated after the break up of Gondwana land. :D
The African cheetah was never a part of this landscape. So it should not be a part of this landscape.
Also since it was never a part of this landscape, we should not use the word reintroduction.
The proponents of this project say that it will help in habitat protection. I disagree. How many square kms of habitat are we talking? We simply don’t have grasslands bigger than 30-40 Sq. kms. And if we are thinking of having a project in such a small area than it is like a small safari in a zoo. And if you seriously want to create grasslands than go to an infamous place like Kalahandi, acquire the unused land and create a suitable grassland habitat. It would take several years of course. Unfortunately, we don’t have to ability and will power to execute such an idea. :DAnd if we had the ability to do it, I would still oppose it as it is an exotic species.
It is said that introduction of African cheetah would lead to better protection of the existing species. There are existing projects like Project Tiger, Project Elephant etc. We do have sanctuaries after particular species. However, we don't pay attention to the existing protected areas. Don't understand how introduction of African Cheetah can break this apathy.
The proponents of the African cheetah introduction have branded the opposition to it as coming from the “tiger lobby”. Frankly speaking by branding all opposition as tiger lobby, people are trying to hide the structural deficiencies in our conservation efforts.
A charismatic species like the Tiger is on the brink. So definitely Cheetah can’t succeed where tiger has failed in overcoming the structural issues. For eg. Where is the protection?
Who is protecting? Our frontline guard force, foresters, rangers etc are old. Half of the posts are lying vacant. A number of places also require more manpower than the sanctioned capacity. They don’t get their salaries in time. They are demotivated, ill equipped. Who is looking into this basic issue?
In our federal setup, the forests are under the control of the states. It is laughable when one state doesn’t allow translocation of a species to a forest in another state. Rather than accepting the risk of failure, our esteemed WII officials come out with theories that tigers in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are of different species. We haven’t been able to save the Asiatic lion. Gujarat is not willing to give a few lions from Gir to be translocated to Madhya Pradesh. Even though that is vital for the survival of lions in this country.
Our forest department is still oriented with the colonial hangover of calculating our forest wealth in terms of cubic feet of timber. Too often we resort to cheap gimmicks rather than ecologically sound plans. The few scientists of repute in this country are mostly depending upon their studies for support rather than illumination – the way a drunken person uses the lamp posts.
I would like to quote the late Kailash Sankhala here: “ We seem to forget the fact that nature cannot be protected by chanting Vedic mantras or celebrating ‘Vana Mahotsava’ and National Wildlife Weeks, nor by building mathematical models and writing glossy management plans, nor by making formal declarations of intent in quick succession….”
Gimmicks like African Cheetah introduction doesn’t help in our conservation and should not be a part of our vision. We have better things to do like energising our frontline protection force, creating ecologically sound management plans and implementing those, prosecution of poachers, restoration of wildlife corridors, relocation of villages from the forest and resettling the villagers, creating a dedicated wildlife department etc, than get swayed by such gimmicks.
Cheers,
Sabyasachi
Another Article on the Cheetah Issue
India has joined the race to save cheetahs, the animal species it lost sometime in 1947, from extinction. Despite the setbacks on the tiger front in the recent years, the country is considering the re-introduction of cheetahs, the only animal it lost in the past 1000 years of conservation history, into its wild. A time frame of six months has been kept for selecting a terrain for the animal which has an amazing reach after being the world’s fastest animal.
Against a population of one lakh at the turn of the previous century, the number of cheetahs at present has come down to less than 10,000. Along with India 15 other countries witnessed the extinction of the animal in the past 60 years. Now Namibia hosts the largest population of cheetahs in the world while Asiatic cheetahs—more akin to the animal India had—survive only in Iran. There number is said to be less than 100.
A consultative meeting held in Rajasthan’s Gajner in Bikaner earlier this month decided to entrust the job of carrying out a reconnaissance of the locations to experts from Wildlife Institute of India, Wildlife Trust of India –the NGO which initiated the process – and the State Governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh.
The consultation, attended by experts such as Stephen J. O’Brien of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, Laurie Marker of Cheetah Conservation Fund and M.K. Ranjitsinh, chairman Wildlife Trust of India and Divyabhanusinh Chavda, president WWF-India, in principle accepted the idea of re-introduction of the cheetah though the authorities remained cautious in their commitment.
“Many people are thrilled about the prospect. Many are critical saying that there is no habitat available and that when India cannot protect its national animal—the tiger—why should it embark on this venture,” wondered Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, who could not make it to the venue, in a message. “Personally I feel that we would be reclaiming a part of our wonderful and varied ecological history if the cheetah was to be reintroduced in the wild…”he said.
Though initially the Indian side was keen on getting cheetahs from Iran, the experts advised the gathering against it. Both Dr. O ‘Brien and Dr.Marker were of the view that sourcing cheetahs from Namibia, instead of trying to get specimen from the limited population Iran, would be advisable. There is no significant difference between African and Asiatic cheetahs as both got separated only some 5,000 years back, they asserted.
Mr.Ramesh, during a visit to Sariska tiger reserve in Rajasthan a few days back had revealed that Iran has been asking a lion in exchange for the cheetah and the deal was not likely to materialize as Gujarat would be unwilling to part with its lions. Experts are also of the view that the Iran population should be left untouched as any experiment in re-introduction in India would require at least 10 cheetahs. Moreover the nature and spread of the jungles in Namibia are said to be similar to those India with villages interspersed in between.
Among the locations short listed as the probable habitat for cheetahs in India include Rajasthan’s Shahgarh Bulge, north west of Jaisalmer along the India-Pakistan border, Chandan, located between Pokhran and Jaisalmer and Baran Bhakar, near Jodhpur. In Gujarat the probable locations are Banni, a 2000 sq km stretch near the Rann of Kutch and Narain Sarovar sanctuary.
Places identified in Madhya Pradesh are Sanjay Dubri sanctuary, adjoining Chattisgarh, Naura Dehi and Palpur Kuno, recommended also for re-introduction of lions. The surprise entrants in the race are Sholapur-Kolapur in Maharashtra and grasslands in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka’s Bijapur. There are suggestions on starting a cheetah breeding centre at Gajner, which has a good ungulate presence or near Jodhpur.
The full article can be found at http://beta.thehindu.com/news/nation...?homepage=true
Reservations expressed by Ms. Maneka Gandhi
Found this article in Hindustan Times. It states that Ms. Maneka Gandhi had raised a dissenting voice in the NTCA meeting.
Mrudul
Jairam-Maneka spat over cheetah
Chetan Chauhan
The environment ministry’s ‘in principle’ approval to relocate cheetahs from South Africa to India became a cause for a verbal duel between environment minister Jairam Ramesh and former environment minister Maneka Gandhi on Tuesday.
This took place at the first meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the regulatory body to protect tigers. Ramesh chaired the meeting, while Gandhi is a member.
It started with Gandhi reportedly denouncing the plan to relocate cheetahs into the wild, 60 years after they went extinct from India. “It has no meaning,” she said. “When the government cannot protect endangered species like tigers, leopards and snow leopards, how can cheetahs be safe in India?”
She also pointed out that scientifically relocation of cheetah’s was not possible.
To this, Ramesh asked her to come up with a proposal decrying the relocation plan. “If you have some scientific data on non-possibility of long distance relocation of cheetahs, please provide it to us. We will examine it,” he said.
In September, wildlife experts from across the world had expressed reservation on relocation of cheetahs to four sites identified by the Wildlife Trust of India, an NGO, which has sought the government’s permission to bring cheetah’s from Africa to India.
Gandhi, however, offered her help to make Madhya Pradesh government sign a tripartite agreement with the Centre on conservation of tigers.
The state has the largest number of tigers in India, but the big cat have vanished from Panna tiger reserve, about 350 kms north of Bhopal.
“We will not release funds to the state for its five reserves this year unless the government signs the tripartite agreement and promises accountability in tiger conservation efforts,” a senior ministry official said.
The source article can be found here:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-...e1-462069.aspx
Genetic variation between African and Asiatic Cheetahs
It seems the basis for granting the in principle approval for introducing African Cheetah in India was on the basis of Dr. Stephen J. O' Brien saying that there is no significant genetic difference between the African and the Iranian cheetah. I was told that my previous comment that the African and Indian Cheetahs are different is not right.
In 1992 Dr. Stephen J. O’Brien had reported that the two African subspecies of cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus from southern Africa and A. jubatus raineyi from eastern Africa)
displayed markedly reduced levels of genetic variation relative to other species. “These measurements included:
(i) electrophoretic variation of allozymes and cell proteins resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis;
(ii) immunological (surgical skin graft) and molecular [restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)] variation at the feline major histocompatibility (MHC) locus, one of the most polymorphic loci in mammals; and
(iii) morphological variation of cranial characteristics. The results of each of these approaches showed that the cheetah had levels of variation comparable to that of deliberately inbred strains of laboratory mice or livestock. These studies lent support to the hypothesis that the cheetah's ancestors had survived a historic period of extensive inbreeding, the modem consequences of which are 90-99% reduction in measurable allelic variation and remarkable physiologic impairments including increased spermatozoa abnormalities, decreased fecundity,
high infant mortality, and increased sensitivity to disease agents”.* On the basis of this study, he had even recommended breeding between the two African subspecies of Cheetah (A. jubatus jubatus and A. jubatus raineyi).
New discovery in Genetics
I am mentioning some latest discovery in genetics in 2006 due to the reason that our understanding of genetics is changing rapidly. I may be digressing, but I think this is important to get a perspective.
In 2006, scientists discovered a dramatic variation in the genetic make-up of humans that caused a fundamental reappraisal of understanding of mankind. This superseded the basic principles of human genetics that we knew from the days of Gregor Mendel, and of Jim Watson and Francis Crick, who discovered the DNA double helix in 1953. It was believed that the variation between people was largely due to differences in the sequences of the individual "letters" of the genome. Now we are told that the variation is explained instead by people having multiple copies of some key genes that make up the human genome. Copy number variants (CNVs) are DNA sequences, 1,000 base pairs or larger, that are deleted, duplicated, or inverted in some individuals but not others. Several thousand CNVs have been discovered in humans, indicating that at least 4 million nucleotides of the human genome (and perhaps several times more) vary in copy number among individuals. CNVs thus represent another important class of genetic variation and contribute to at least an additional 0.1% difference, on average, between individuals.
The findings mean that instead of humanity being 99.9 per cent identical, as previously believed, we are at least 10 times more different between one another than once thought - which could explain why some people are prone to serious diseases. It also told us that we are about 96% similar to Chimps and not the 99% that we thought earlier.
Scientists used highly sophisticated methods of analysing large segments of DNA. Niger Carter of Sanger Institute of Cambridge had said that "In some ways the methods we have used are 'molecular microscopes', which have transformed the techniques used since the foundation of clinical genetics where researchers used microscopes to look for visible deletions and rearrangements in chromosomes.
The study was undertaken with a sample size of 270 people.
Our readers now would have an idea that completely mapping the genes is not an easy job. In case of the issue of climate change, we all know that lot of scientists and senior civil servants in USA had softened their stands. Before anyone says so, I would like to clarify that I am not alluding at this moment, that the scientists have given suitable comments for furthering the cause of this project. However, I would like to know whether the scientific studies about the genetic differences between Asiatic cheetah and African has been done rigorously and whether they are upto date. The methodology used including details of how many samples have been collected for this study should be made available. I am sure for the sake of transparency the detailed scientific papers are made available to the public.
Sabyasachi
Ref:
* Dating the genetic bottleneck of the African cheetah
(DNA rmgerprint/mtDNA)
MARILYN MENOTTI-RAYMOND* AND STEPHEN J. O'BRIEN
*Biological Carcinogenesis and Development Program and tLaboratory of Viral Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702
Communicated by Bruce Wallace, October 29, 1992
Transporting Cheetah and other charismatic cats over long distances
Maneka Gandhi is supposed to have said that scientifically relocation of cheetah’s was not possible.
Dr R L Eaton, who had worked on charismatic species like Cheetah was of the view that these animals should not be transported.
I am also quoting the impact on tigers from a paper by Dembiec, D.P, Snider, R.J and Zanella, A.J. (2004) in the paper “The effects of transport stress on tiger Physiology and behaviour”, Zoo Biology.
"Tigers are often transported for education, conservation, and zoo enhancement purposes, however the effect of transfer on them has not yet been documented. Our objective was to evaluate how transport affects the behavior and physiology of tigers, taking into account previous experience with the transport procedure.
We simulated transport by relocating five tigers in a small individual transfer cage. Two tigers had prior experience with the procedure, and three tigers were naive to it. After 30 min, each tiger was released back into their original enclosure. Physiological measurements were recorded for four of the five tigers; these included respiration rate and immune-reactive fecal cortisol response using radioimmunoassay. We also recorded the behavior of all five tigers before, during, and after transport. Our behavioral analysis included activity level, pacing behavior, time spent investigating, respiration rate, and ear position. Average respiration rates of all tigers increased from 56.1 breaths/min to 94.6 breaths/min during transport and to 132.3 breaths/min 10 min following release into their enclosures. Average immune-reactive cortisol concentrations peaked 3-6 days after transport at 239% above baseline and returned to baseline levels 9-12 days afterward. During their peak time block, naive tigers exhibited a higher average increase in cortisol levels (482% above baseline) than the experienced tigers (158% above baseline). The naive tigers\' average immune-reactive cortisol concentration remained elevated for a longer period (9-12 days) than the experienced tigers\' (3-6 days). In both groups, behavioral responses ranged from active to inactive, however naive tigers performed these repertoires with greater intensity by pacing faster and performing fewer state changes. Results suggest that prior exposure to elements of the transport procedure may lead to some level of habituation, thus reducing the effects of transportation stress. 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc".
It should be noted that the above experiment was done in a zoo. And it didn't entail transcontinent relocation.
Sabyasachi
Will cheetahs roam in in Indian jungles again?
An article on the Cheetah issue.
New Delhi – After a gap of 60 years, cheetahs may make a comeback in Indian jungles with three potential African nations giving a nod to the idea of trans-locating the animal in this country.
After a week-end visit to Cape Town to take part in a climate change meeting, India's Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh says the African cheetah could be brought to India within the next three years.
“We have zeroed in on South Africa, Namibia and Kenya and we are talking to all of them…So I took this opportunity to visit the Cheetah Outreach near Cape Town,” says Ramesh said.
“The South Africans have the best technical expertise,” he added.
“South Africa is willing to give cheetahs to India,” Ramesh said. “Now, we have the option of getting the animals from South Africa, Kenya and Namibia,” he added.
The cheetah is the only large mammal to become extinct in India in the last millennium, according to Ramesh, who is on a mission to reintroduce the animal in central India — even though the tiger lobby in India is skeptical about the idea.
“They say 'if you can't look after the tiger, how will you protect the cheetah?',” Ramesh said. “I believe that just as the tiger is a symbol of the forest habitat, the cheetah symbolises our vanishing grasslands…It's a valuable icon.”
The Wildlife Institute of India is spearheading the project, and will unveil a road map and destination for the African cheetahs — possible options are in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
The minister said that by May this year the ministry will have a detailed survey on feasibility of re-introduction of cheetahs in the country.
The survey, that will form the basis for the roadmap, is being carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), located in Dehra Dun city, in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the state governments concerned, reports in the Indian media said.
"The survey is being conducted in six locations - three in Madhya Pradesh, two in Rajasthan and one in Gujarat," Ramesh has been quoted as saying.
The environment ministry last year gave the go-ahead to draft a detailed roadmap for the Cheetah Re-introduction Project, proposed by the WTI, and endorsed by wildlife experts.
On the sidelines of the just-concluded climate change meet in Cape Town, India and South Africa — the two countries on Monday released a joint statement, pledging support to tackle climate change as part of the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) group — also discussed re-introduction of cheetahs in this country.
After a meeting between Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and his South African counterpart Buyelwa Sonjica, the latter has consented to part with cheetahs, extinct in Indian forests, for the re-introduction program, reports in the Indian media said.
The western Indian state of Gujarat, the home to the Asiatic lions, has also says it is keen on reintroducing Asiatic-type cheetahs from Iran in its jungles..
S.K. Nanda, Principal Secretary, Forests and Environment of the Gujarat state government, has been quoted by the Hindu newspaper last week as saying that that Iran was the only country where the Asiatic cheetahs were still found.
But the problem is that the numbers in Iran too had dwindled to less than a hundred.
It was highly unlikely that Iran would agree to part with the animals, but “we are still making efforts to save the animals from becoming extinct,” according to Nanda.
Pradeep Khanna, Gujarat state Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said the state had managed to get two pairs of African cheetahs and kept them in the Sakkarbagh zoo in Junagadh district for breeding in captivity. But “it is a very shy species, so far showing no signs of breeding.”
He did not indicate when the local government got the animals and from which nation in Africa.
The last cheetah in the wild was said to have been shot in the Reva area of Madhya Pradesh state in the 1940s.
Taken from http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/s...les-again.html
Letter written by the Minister MoEF to CM Rajasthan
Sharing the text of the letter written by Shri Jairam Ramesh, to the CM of Rajasthan on Cheetah relocation.
Sabyasachi
30th July, 2010
My dear Ashokji,
As you are aware, the cheetah is the only large Indian animal that we have lost since Independence. They also occurred in Rajasthan in the past. I am sure you and the state of Rajasthan would be as keen to bring back this lost natural heritage of India. The reintroduction of the cheetah would not just be restoration of a lost species, but also a restoration of some of our degraded but invaluable ecosystems and the varied fauna and flora dependent upon them. Of all the large cats, the cheetah would cause the least conflict with people, as there is no record whatsoever of a cheetah ever causing injury to humans and they do not attack cattle.
The Ministry of Environment & Forests had commissioned a special study of ten sites in four states, to ascertain the feasibility of cheetah reintroduction. The report of this investigation has clearly indicated that cheetah can be reintroduced at three sites – Kuna-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh, the southern Shahgarh landscape in the western part of the Jaisalmar district of Rajasthan on the border with Pakistan, in the area also known as Shahgarh bulge and Nauradehi, also in Madhya Pradesh.
The western and southern flaks of this Shahgarh bulge have been fenced off along the international border and the area is totally under the control of the BSF. The area being a desert covered with sand dunes and some vegetation, there is no agriculture. There are, however, settlements called Dhanis which are occupied seasonally by nomadic pastoralists who graze sheep and goats, and who occupy these Dhanis for a part of the year. They also move out when the army and the BSF want them to do so. As the western and southern sides of this bulge has already been fenced off, it is proposed to fence off the eastern and the northern sides, whereby a large area could be secured, the vegetation including grass could be allowed to regenerate and the cheetah would not be able to go out to raid the small stock of the shepherds. The nomadic shepherds could be given alternate sides outside the fenced off area where large tracts are still available on the north-eastern side and where bore-wells could also be provided. The shepherds could be given the same generous package as is given under Project Tiger. Every effort has been made to exclude large human habitations from the proposed enclosed area and a more detailed survey would be made to ensure that there is the least possible conflict of interests, while delineating the periphery of the proposed fencing. The mining for gas or oil would not be hampered and there would be no curtailment of the patrolling activities of the armed forces. In fact, these agencies would be part of the joint venture. The introduction of the cheetah would be a substantial addition to the tourist attractions in Jaisalmar district.
The entire cost of the cheetah reintroduction project would be borne by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
I would, therefore, request you to kindly agree in principle to the proposal of cheetah introduction in the southern Shahgarh landscape of Jaisalmar district, so that we could go ahead with the preparation of more detailed plans for reintroduction, which would be prepared in collaboration with representatives of your State Government. If you so wish, I could request Dr. Ranjitsinh, a retired IAS officer and Dr. Divyabhanusinh Chavda to meet you and your officers to explain the project in greater detail. In the meanwhile, I am herewith forwarding the report on the feasibility of cheetah reintroduction, for your perusal.
With regards,
Yours Sincerely,
(Jairam Ramesh)
The original letter can be viewed here: http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/pub...%20Cheetah.pdf
Supreme Court Stays Cheetah Import
The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India has stayed the African Cheetah reintroduction project. A bench comprising Justices K S Radhakrishnan and C K Prasad while conducting the hearing of relocation of Asiatic Lions from Gujrat to Kuno in MP restrained the Government from implementing the project. The amicus curiae P S Narasimha had filed an application seeking a stay of the introdcution of African Cheetah. The Hon'ble Supreme court is of the view that proper approvals were not taken from the NBW (National Board for Wildlife). It also opined that import of these cheetahs will not help in conservation in anyway, therefore the project is being stayed.
Three Cheers for Supreme Court!
Sabyasachi
Centre seeks Supreme Court nod to bring cheetah
Centre seeks Supreme Court nod to bring cheetah
New Delhi, Wed Sep 19 2012, 06:02 hrs
Four months ago, the court stayed proposed move to get cheetah from Namibia
Asserting that an opinion of the National Board for Wildlife was only “advisory” in nature and “not mandatory,” the Centre on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to lift its four-month-old stay on implementation of the Cheetah Reintroduction Programme, through which the Ministry of Environment and Forests sought to get the feline from Africa.
In an affidavit filed in pursuant to the court’s May 8 stay order, the MoEF has refuted the proposition that the NBW’s opinion was a legal requirement — one of the prime contentions that had led the court order. “The NBW is primarily an advisory body to the Government of India on matters relating to wildlife, as mandated under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Section 5C or any other provision of the Act does not make the opinion of the NBW mandatory for the government to take a considered decision on management and conservation of wildlife based on scientific information,” stated the affidavit.
It added that the proposal regarding reintroduction of cheetah was placed before the NBW in March 2010 and none of its members had raised any objection to it nor had they sought a discussion during the subsequent meetings.
A Forest Bench had restrained the government from going ahead with its project following objections over lack of positive opinion from the NBW, expected expenditure, prey base, and other aspects relating to the feasibility study.
The issue of relocating cheetah from Namibia came up during a hearing on reintroduction of Asiatic lions from Gujarat’s Gir National Park to Kuno Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The affidavit, submitted by government’s counsel S W A Qadri has sought permission to reintroduce the extinct species in its historical range, claiming cheetah and lions have historical coexistence in the proposed area.
“It will be ensured that the cheetah reintroduction in Kuno would in no way be allowed to delay and affect the lion reintroduction therein,” the MoEF undertook.