Gandhisagar to serve as cheetahs’ 2nd hub

Even as safety at Kuno National Park, which currently houses 24 cheetahs, remains inadequate, the Centre has begun preparations to introduce another batch of 12-14 cheetahs from African countries at Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

According to an action plan prepared by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India, leopards will be relocated from Gandhisagar to create a suitable habitat for the cheetahs. The plan emphasises ensuring an adequate prey base, particularly chitals and nilgai, which are essential for the cheetahs’ survival.

“Cheetahs and leopards can co-exist if there is an adequate prey base and sufficient resources in other parts of the sanctuary,” the report noted.

The report also cautions against constructing high-impact infrastructure or promoting industrial development around the sanctuary. It recommends identifying wildlife corridors to facilitate the natural movement of cheetahs and enhance their adaptability.

Before translocation, the new cheetahs will undergo thorough health screenings. They will be kept in a quarantine facility in their source country, such as Kenya or South Africa, for at least one month to monitor their health status. The report specifies that only wild-origin cheetahs free of any pathogens novel to India will be considered for relocation.

“The cheetahs selected for introduction to India will undergo rigorous evaluation by project collaborators from the source country and verification by the Indian project team. Any cheetah found to carry a novel pathogen will be excluded from translocation,” the report stated.

Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised about Kuno National Park’s preparedness. Madhya Pradesh Chief Wildlife Warden VN Ambade recently wrote to Kuno Field Director Uttam Sharma highlighting the lack of adequate security arrangements and the insufficient availability of chitals as prey for the cheetahs.

“Although some chitals were brought from Kanha National Park and other sanctuaries, they are not enough. What measures are being taken to augment the prey base?” Ambade questioned in his letter.

Earlier this month, a poaching attempt at Kuno was foiled by forest staff, raising concerns about wildlife safety. A similar incident occurred on June 12, 2023, when three poachers were arrested by a forest patrol team, further underscoring the need for strengthened security measures within the park.