Guest guest Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 http://blog.taragana.com/n/cheetah-re-introduction-plan-under-discussion-163145/ Cheetah re-introduction plan under discussion Sanjeeb Baruah September 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Cheetah experts from across the globe are meeting in Gajner in Rajasthan from Wednesday to explore whether the world's fastest land animal can be re-introduced in India, more than 60 years after they were wiped out in this country. Well-known cheetah experts Stephen O'Brien and Laurie Marker are among some 30 scientists participating in the two-day conference inaugurated by Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh. Sources said countries like Namibia in Africa may be requested to send cheetahs to India. The conference will deliberate on a range of issues such as biological, ecological and security factors, which will be crucial for the survival of cheetah in India, an official said requesting anonymity. According to sources, a senior scientist of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had surveyed three to four places in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for cheetah re-introduction. The details will be presented at the conference. The Gajner forest near Bikaner, some 450 km from Delhi, is reportedly one of the sites under consideration. An official told IANS that the Rajasthan forest department would also make a presentation on whether the state has habitat suitable for cheetahs. Experts say it will be relatively easier to get cheetahs from Africa, where there are many of them. There had been an earlier proposal to import them from Iran due to the shorter distance, but there are not many cheetahs left in the wild in Iran. In the past, India's last cheetah in the wild was said to have been shot in the Reva area of Madhya Pradesh in the 1940s. The cheetah, the smallest of the big cats, can run faster than any other animal on land, more than 100 km per hour. Laurie Marker founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 1990. She began her research in Namibia in 1977 and is recognized as one of the world's leading experts on cheetahs. Stephen O'Brien has done pioneering studies on genetic science and authored the book Tears of the Cheetah: And Other Tales from the Genetic Frontlines. The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), an NGO, is helping the government in the cheetah re-introduction project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 This is what Ms. Belinda Wright, Executive Director, WPSI (Wildlife Protection Society of India) told me sometime back on the proposed Cheetah introduction in India: " We should focus our efforts on securing a future for tigers, leopards & other wild cats in India, rather than the introduction of an alien sub species. I also do not believe that we have sufficient suitable protected habitat to sustain a viable population of African cheetahs " . * * On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 8:11 PM, < journalistandanimals wrote: > > > > http://blog.taragana.com/n/cheetah-re-introduction-plan-under-discussion-163145/ > Cheetah re-introduction plan under discussion > Sanjeeb Baruah > September 8th, 2009 > > NEW DELHI - Cheetah experts from across the globe are meeting in Gajner in > Rajasthan from Wednesday to explore whether the world's fastest land animal > can be re-introduced in India, more than 60 years after they were wiped out > in this country. > > Well-known cheetah experts Stephen O'Brien and Laurie Marker are among some > 30 scientists participating in the two-day conference inaugurated by > Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh. > > Sources said countries like Namibia in Africa may be requested to send > cheetahs to India. > > The conference will deliberate on a range of issues such as biological, > ecological and security factors, which will be crucial for the survival of > cheetah in India, an official said requesting anonymity. > > According to sources, a senior scientist of the Wildlife Institute of India > (WII) had surveyed three to four places in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for > cheetah re-introduction. The details will be presented at the conference. > > The Gajner forest near Bikaner, some 450 km from Delhi, is reportedly one > of > the sites under consideration. > > An official told IANS that the Rajasthan forest department would also make > a > presentation on whether the state has habitat suitable for cheetahs. > > Experts say it will be relatively easier to get cheetahs from Africa, where > there are many of them. There had been an earlier proposal to import them > from Iran due to the shorter distance, but there are not many cheetahs left > in the wild in Iran. > > In the past, India's last cheetah in the wild was said to have been shot in > the Reva area of Madhya Pradesh in the 1940s. > > The cheetah, the smallest of the big cats, can run faster than any other > animal on land, more than 100 km per hour. > > Laurie Marker founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 1990. She > began > her research in Namibia in 1977 and is recognized as one of the world's > leading experts on cheetahs. > > Stephen O'Brien has done pioneering studies on genetic science and authored > the book Tears of the Cheetah: And Other Tales from the Genetic Frontlines. > > The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), an NGO, is helping the government in the > cheetah re-introduction project. > > -- http://www.stopelephantpolo.com http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 .....and I quiet agree with what Ms. Wright says! Regards Radhika Narayani Singh (I) C.A.R.E India (Center for Animal Rescue Rehab and Environment Protection) _________ " Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but fooprints, Kill nothing but time " _________ " USE LESS PAPER AND SAVE A TREE " _________ ________________________________ azam24x7 <azam24x7 Cc: AAPN List <aapn > Friday, 11 September, 2009 10:21:50 AM Re: (IN) Cheetah Reintroduction conference This is what Ms. Belinda Wright, Executive Director, WPSI (Wildlife Protection Society of India) told me sometime back on the proposed Cheetah introduction in India: " We should focus our efforts on securing a future for tigers, leopards & other wild cats in India, rather than the introduction of an alien sub species. I also do not believe that we have sufficient suitable protected habitat to sustain a viable population of African cheetahs " . * * On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 8:11 PM, < journalistandanimal s wrote: > > > > http://blog. taragana. com/n/cheetah- re-introduction- plan-under- discussion- 163145/ > Cheetah re-introduction plan under discussion > Sanjeeb Baruah > September 8th, 2009 > > NEW DELHI - Cheetah experts from across the globe are meeting in Gajner in > Rajasthan from Wednesday to explore whether the world's fastest land animal > can be re-introduced in India, more than 60 years after they were wiped out > in this country. > > Well-known cheetah experts Stephen O'Brien and Laurie Marker are among some > 30 scientists participating in the two-day conference inaugurated by > Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh. > > Sources said countries like Namibia in Africa may be requested to send > cheetahs to India. > > The conference will deliberate on a range of issues such as biological, > ecological and security factors, which will be crucial for the survival of > cheetah in India, an official said requesting anonymity. > > According to sources, a senior scientist of the Wildlife Institute of India > (WII) had surveyed three to four places in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for > cheetah re-introduction. The details will be presented at the conference. > > The Gajner forest near Bikaner, some 450 km from Delhi, is reportedly one > of > the sites under consideration. > > An official told IANS that the Rajasthan forest department would also make > a > presentation on whether the state has habitat suitable for cheetahs. > > Experts say it will be relatively easier to get cheetahs from Africa, where > there are many of them. There had been an earlier proposal to import them > from Iran due to the shorter distance, but there are not many cheetahs left > in the wild in Iran. > > In the past, India's last cheetah in the wild was said to have been shot in > the Reva area of Madhya Pradesh in the 1940s. > > The cheetah, the smallest of the big cats, can run faster than any other > animal on land, more than 100 km per hour. > > Laurie Marker founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 1990. She > began > her research in Namibia in 1977 and is recognized as one of the world's > leading experts on cheetahs. > > Stephen O'Brien has done pioneering studies on genetic science and authored > the book Tears of the Cheetah: And Other Tales from the Genetic Frontlines. > > The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), an NGO, is helping the government in the > cheetah re-introduction project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 > " We should focus our efforts on securing a future for tigers, >leopards & other wild cats in India, rather than the introduction of >an alien sub species. I also do not believe that we have sufficient >suitable protected habitat to sustain a viable population of African >cheetahs " . First of all, cheetahs are no more an " alien sub species " in India than elephants. Like elephants, cheetahs evolved first in North America, and were in Asia before they reached Africa. As the cheetah gene pool is uncommonly thin, in all likelihood the mostly vanished " Indian cheetah " differed from today's African cheetahs only in the stamp on their passports. Second, who claims cheetahs need " protected habitat " ? African cheetahs persist mainly in protected habitat because elsewhere they were shot to oblivion by trophy hunters and heavily trapped for their pelts. However, trophy hunting has been banned in India for more than 30 years. Protected species are often poached in India, but this appears to happen the most in protected habitats where the rare animals are easy pickings. If cheetahs are not artificially concentrated in protected habitats, they would fill a vacant ecological niche. They hunt much smaller prey than leopards, tigers, and Asiatic lions, and thrive in more arid climates, where other cat species are few. -- Merritt Clifton Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE P.O. Box 960 Clinton, WA 98236 Telephone: 360-579-2505 Fax: 360-579-2575 E-mail: anmlpepl Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org [ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide, founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations. We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year; for free sample, send address.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 1:28 PM, Merritt Clifton <anmlpeplwrote: > First of all, cheetahs are no more an " alien sub species " in > India than elephants. Like elephants, cheetahs evolved first in > North America, and were in Asia before they reached Africa. > > (This claim has been disputed. The Wikipedia entry on Cheetah reads the > following : > " The cheetah has unusually low genetic variability and a very low sperm count, which also suffers from low motility and deformed flagellae. Skin grafts between non-related cheetahs illustrate this point in that there is no rejection of the donor skin. It is thought that it went through a prolonged period of inbreeding following a genetic bottleneck during the last ice age. It probably evolved in Africa during the Miocene epoch (26 million to 7.5 million years ago), before migrating to Asia. New research by a team led by Warren Johnson and Stephen O'Brien of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity (National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland, United States) has recently placed the last common ancestor of all existing species as living in Asia 11 million years ago, which may lead to revision and refinement of existing ideas about cheetah evolution. Now-extinct species include: *Acinonyx pardinensis* (Pliocene epoch), much larger than the modern cheetah and found in Europe, India, and China; *Acinonyx intermedius*(mid-Pleistocene period), found over the same range. The extinct genus *Miracinonyx* was extremely cheetah-like, but recent DNA analysis has shown that *Miracinonyx inexpectatus*, *Miracinonyx studeri*, and *Miracinonyx trumani* (early to late Pleistocene epoch), found in North America and called the " North American cheetah " are not true cheetahs, instead being close relatives to the cougar. " Reference : The Late Miocene Radiation of Modern Felidae: A Genetic Assessment Authors : Warren E. Johnson,Eduardo Eizirik,Jill Pecon-Slattery, William J. Murphy, Agostinho AntunesEmma Teeling, Stephen J. O'Brien Contacts : johnsonw , obrien > As the cheetah gene pool is uncommonly thin, in all > likelihood the mostly vanished " Indian cheetah " differed from today's > African cheetahs only in the stamp on their passports. > (There is no consensus among scientists as to what time frame dictates an earmarked amount of physiological and genetic differences to turn pronounced enough to consider evolution of separate species or sub species. I enclose a news item that says Asiatic and African Cheetahs have been separated for approximately 5000 years. I am interested to know whether this period is sufficient to produce marked differences between African and Asiatic Cheetahs. I ask because Richard Dawkins has proposed that the populations of Grey Squirrels in UK and US may be genetically different and this only after a separation of approximately 150 years. This also gives rise to the cardinal question : how do we define a species and categorise a subspecies and a race? Some of the distinctions have been quite arbitrary, guided by personal motives of scientists and aided by desires of conservationists. I am quite eager to know if the proposed Cheetah project is moving toward that direction.) > > Second, who claims cheetahs need " protected habitat " ? > (Many do and with good reason. The reason being that without protection, the probability of such animals being killed in areas in the vicinity of human habitation is large.The population of Indian tigers is overwhelmingly within the precincts of Protected Areas. This applies to other Big Cat Species in India too.) > > African cheetahs persist mainly in protected habitat because > elsewhere they were shot to oblivion by trophy hunters and heavily > trapped for their pelts. However, trophy hunting has been banned in > India for more than 30 years. > ( Whether this situation in Africa will not be replicated in India is a moot point. Prohibition of an activity by passing a law is one thing, enforcement of that statute is something entirely different. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that any animal is vulnerable to hunting and trapping for pelts in India. If someone can kill a tiger for its skin, there is no reasonable evidence to suggest that person would spare the Cheetah. It is now 37 years since the passage of the Wildlife Protection Act, but hunting of animals remains a problem for conservation, within and without Protected Areas.) > Protected species are often poached in > India, but this appears to happen the most in protected habitats > where the rare animals are easy pickings. > > ( I would be keen to know if there is any study that establishes the > claim that rare animals are killed more in Protected Areas than outside. It > is something to note.) > > > > If cheetahs are not artificially concentrated in protected > habitats, they would fill a vacant ecological niche. They hunt much > smaller prey than leopards, tigers, and Asiatic lions, and thrive > in more arid climates, where other cat species are few. (If the animals are imported, they would be artificially concentrated anyway because : 1) The number of imported animals is likely to be small and would be restricted to selected localities. 2) In a country of one billion people, where more and more land is being reclaimed everyday for a multiplicity of reasons, there is not an infinite variety of choice to provide imported Cheetahs to live outside designated Protected Areas to fill a vacant ecological niche, considering of course such vacancy exists. 3) The suitability of existent habitat for imported Cheetahs is a topic that merits further research and investigation.) Enclosed are two items that may throw further light on this issue : *http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=16434* *Experts meet to discuss cheetah reintroduction into the wild in India* *Gajner (Rajasthan), September 9, 2009:* Moving a step further to reintroduce the cheetah to the Indian wild, experts from across the world have gathered at the Gajner Palace, Bikaner, Rajasthan, to work out a roadmap for the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, proposed by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). The two-day meeting began today to examine the feasibility and commitment to reintroduce the species, which was extirpated from India about six decades ago. Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, communicated, “I feel that we owe it to the animal whose very name is derived from Sanskrit and that was once so ubiquitous in our country to at least analyse the pros and cons, examine the advantages and risks in a dispassionate and professional manner drawing on the best international expertise on the subject.” “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 but I will be guided by the consensus amongst the experts on this matter.” The meeting addressed several primary issues pertaining to cheetah reintroduction including habitat and prey availability, man-animal conflict and source of the reintroduction stock, amongst others. The meeting was chaired by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar and was attended by officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, Chief Wildlife Wardens of four states - Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh that hold potential sites for cheetah reintroduction, representatives from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), IUCN, international cheetah experts, and members of Indian and International NGOs. Dr MK Ranjitsinh, Chairman, WTI, stressed on the benefits of cheetah reintroduction, to the endangered grassland-forest habitats of India, and the fauna and flora within. “If the project succeeds, we will not only be returning the species to India, but will also be securing grasslands, which despite being the most productive are also among the least studied and excessively abused of Indian habitats, and a number of endangered species that survive within these habitats,” he said. Dr Yadvendradev Jhala of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), gave a comparison on the potential cheetah reintroduction sites in India. He said that in terms of habitat suitability, density of human settlements, and other considerations, cheetah reintroduction was possible in certain sites. However, site-specific imrovements would be necessary. Dr Rajesh Gopal, Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) highlighted the potential threats to reintroduced animals, comparing it with those faced by the tiger in India. The Chief Wildlife Wardens (CWLW) of the four states gave a pragmatic assessment to the ground realities for the project. Shri NK Srivastava, CWLW, Gujarat, summed up the concerns raised during the meeting, and pointed out that several issues such as habitat, prey availability, conflict with humans etc associated with the proposed reintroduction will have to be examined in greater detail. The meeting also addressed the issue of the source of seed stock for reintroduction. Several foreign experts participating in the meeting endorsed the project’s proposal of bringing cheetahs from Africa for reintroduction. Dr Stephen J O’Brien, the world’s leading conservation geneticist, and the Chief of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), said that the African and Iranian cheetah are genetically very similar. They are just 4500-5000 years apart, which is not enough even for a sub-species level differenciation. In comparison, the African and the Asiatic lion sub-species were separated about 100,000 years ago; likewise, the African and Asian leopard sub-species were separated about 169,000 years ago. “Your decisions should not be based on the genetic arguments,” he added, as there is no significant difference between the African and the Asiatic cheetah. Dr Laurie Marker, renowned cheetah expert, said, “Cheetahs have gone extinct from 15 countries in the last 60 years. Iran has less than 100 cheetahs. For reintroduction purposes, I will not recommend taking any individuals from Iran.” The participants will now work on preparing a road map to be presented to the Central Government for approval. However, a lot of extensive studies will have to be done before the project plan is finalised. Copyright mediaforfreedom.com *http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090710/nation.htm#25* *Move to ‘Import’ Cheetah Wildlife experts remain unimpressed Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service* New Delhi, July 9 India’s decision to explore the possibility of bringing in cheetahs from abroad to revive the long-legged spotted cat, now extinct in the country, has not evoked a very encouraging response from eminent wildlife professionals. Talking to The Tribune, animal experts Valmik Thapar and PK Sen said the proposal was not something they would personally like to support. They felt a better idea would be to instead concentrate on conserving the wildlife assets India has today. “It’s a very difficult task and not something I would like to propagate. My suggestion would be to look after animals as they are today and make sure they are kept safe. Once they have achieved that they can pursue other objectives,” said Thapar. Former Project Tiger director and Ranthambore Foundation executive director PK Sen also supports this point of view, saying it would be better if India concentrated on saving the fast dwindling numbers of tigers, lions and leopards in its jungles. “Every year we lose hundreds of leopards to poaching. The probability (of bringing back the cheetah) is very low - I feel it’s a waste of effort. If they think there is a probability of accomplishing this, let them prove it first. I think it's just another impractical idea floated by some high-level conservationists,” he added. Sources said the environment & forests ministry plans to hold a review meeting on the issue at Gajner in Bikaner district where plenty of prey for cheetahs is available. “The possibility (of reintroducing the cheetah) will be studied on the spot there,” they added. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday the government was looking into the possibility of bringing the extinct animal to India. “The cheetah is the only animal that has been declared extinct in India in the last 1,000 years. We have to get them from abroad to repopulate the species,” he said, responding to a calling attention notice from the BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy. He then added: “We hope to do so soon.” The notice followed a debate in the House with Ramesh admitting the situation in 16 of the 37 tiger reserves in the country was “truly alarming”. Which is why the big question - is India, where the number of tigers is steadily decreasing every year, ready to receive the extinct big cat? Terming the ‘reintroduction’ of the cheetah a “highly complicated task, primarily due to lack of a suitable habitat” in the country, Thapar explained this atypical member of the cat family is a very fragile animal that requires lot of care. “It needs large stretches of grasslands, which the country doesn’t have anymore as most of them have been converted to fields for farming. So where will the cheetah live?” he questioned. > > > -- > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- azam24x7 <azam24x7 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:14:27 +0530 Fwd: (IN) Cheetah Reintroduction conference AAPN List <aapn > On request, Ms. Wright, despite her busy schedule did agree to respond to Merritt's statement with regard to the above issue. She was to attend a meeting and reply sometime in the evening. But meanwhile 's comments came by. Thanks Shubho. Cheers !! Azam ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Belinda Wright <belinda Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:50:13 +0530 Re: (IN) Cheetah Reintroduction conference azam24x7 <azam24x7 Dear Azam, I think has covered the argument well, and that there's no need for me to respond ... there are too many other battles to fight ! Best wishes, Belinda On 11-Sep-09, at 3:55 PM, azam24x7 wrote: > FYI > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 3:45 PM > Re: (IN) Cheetah Reintroduction conference > AAPN List <aapn > > > > On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 1:28 PM, Merritt Clifton > <anmlpeplwrote: > > > First of all, cheetahs are no more an " alien sub species " in > > India than elephants. Like elephants, cheetahs evolved first in > > North America, and were in Asia before they reached Africa. > > > > > > (This claim has been disputed. The Wikipedia entry on Cheetah > reads the > > following : > > > > > " The cheetah has unusually low genetic variability and a very low > sperm > count, which also suffers from low motility and deformed flagellae. > Skin > grafts between non-related cheetahs illustrate this point in that > there is > no rejection of the donor skin. It is thought that it went through a > prolonged period of inbreeding following a genetic bottleneck during > the > last ice age. It probably evolved in Africa during the Miocene epoch > (26 > million to 7.5 million years ago), before migrating to Asia. New > research by > a team led by Warren Johnson and Stephen O'Brien of the Laboratory of > Genomic Diversity (National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland, > United > States) has recently placed the last common ancestor of all existing > species > as living in Asia 11 million years ago, which may lead to revision and > refinement of existing ideas about cheetah evolution. Now-extinct > species > include: *Acinonyx pardinensis* (Pliocene epoch), much larger than the > modern cheetah and found in Europe, India, and China; *Acinonyx > intermedius*(mid-Pleistocene period), found over the same range. The > extinct genus > *Miracinonyx* was extremely cheetah-like, but recent DNA analysis > has shown > that *Miracinonyx inexpectatus*, *Miracinonyx studeri*, and > *Miracinonyx > trumani* (early to late Pleistocene epoch), found in North America and > called the " North American cheetah " are not true cheetahs, instead > being > close relatives to the cougar. " > > Reference : The Late Miocene Radiation of Modern Felidae: A Genetic > Assessment > Authors : Warren E. Johnson,Eduardo Eizirik,Jill Pecon-Slattery, > William J. > Murphy, Agostinho AntunesEmma Teeling, Stephen J. O'Brien > > Contacts : johnsonw , obrien > > > > > > As the cheetah gene pool is uncommonly thin, in all > > likelihood the mostly vanished " Indian cheetah " differed from > today's > > African cheetahs only in the stamp on their passports. > > > > (There is no consensus among scientists as to what time frame > dictates an > earmarked amount of physiological and genetic differences to turn > pronounced > enough to consider evolution of separate species or sub species. I > enclose a > news item that says Asiatic and African Cheetahs have been separated > for > approximately 5000 years. I am interested to know whether this > period is > sufficient to produce marked differences between African and Asiatic > Cheetahs. I ask because Richard Dawkins has proposed that the > populations of > Grey Squirrels in UK and US may be genetically different and this > only after > a separation of approximately 150 years. This also gives rise to the > cardinal question : how do we define a species and categorise a > subspecies > and a race? Some of the distinctions have been quite arbitrary, > guided by > personal motives of scientists and aided by desires of > conservationists. I > am quite eager to know if the proposed Cheetah project is moving > toward that > direction.) > > > > > > > Second, who claims cheetahs need " protected habitat " ? > > > (Many do and with good reason. The reason being that without > protection, the > probability of such animals being killed in areas in the vicinity of > human > habitation is large.The population of Indian tigers is > overwhelmingly within > the precincts of Protected Areas. This applies to other Big Cat > Species in > India too.) > > > > > > > African cheetahs persist mainly in protected habitat because > > elsewhere they were shot to oblivion by trophy hunters and heavily > > trapped for their pelts. However, trophy hunting has been banned in > > India for more than 30 years. > > > > ( Whether this situation in Africa will not be replicated in India > is a moot > point. Prohibition of an activity by passing a law is one thing, > enforcement > of that statute is something entirely different. Anecdotal evidence > would > suggest that any animal is vulnerable to hunting and trapping for > pelts in > India. If someone can kill a tiger for its skin, there is no > reasonable > evidence to suggest that person would spare the Cheetah. It is now > 37 years > since the passage of the Wildlife Protection Act, but hunting of > animals > remains a problem for conservation, within and without Protected > Areas.) > > > > > Protected species are often poached in > > India, but this appears to happen the most in protected habitats > > where the rare animals are easy pickings. > > > > > > ( I would be keen to know if there is any study that establishes > the > > claim that rare animals are killed more in Protected Areas than > outside. It > > is something to note.) > > > > > > > > > > > > > If cheetahs are not artificially concentrated in protected > > habitats, they would fill a vacant ecological niche. They hunt much > > smaller prey than leopards, tigers, and Asiatic lions, and thrive > > in more arid climates, where other cat species are few. > > > (If the animals are imported, they would be artificially concentrated > anyway because : > 1) The number of imported animals is likely to be small and would be > restricted to selected localities. > 2) In a country of one billion people, where more and more land > is being > reclaimed everyday for a multiplicity of reasons, there is not an > infinite > variety of choice to provide imported Cheetahs to live outside > designated > Protected Areas to fill a vacant ecological niche, considering of > course > such vacancy exists. > 3) The suitability of existent habitat for imported Cheetahs is a > topic > that merits further research and investigation.) > > Enclosed are two items that may throw further light on this issue : > *http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=16434* > *Experts meet to discuss cheetah reintroduction into the wild in > India* > > *Gajner (Rajasthan), September 9, 2009:* Moving a step further to > reintroduce the cheetah to the Indian wild, experts from across the > world > have gathered at the Gajner Palace, Bikaner, Rajasthan, to work out a > roadmap for the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, proposed by the > Wildlife > Trust of India (WTI). > > The two-day meeting began today to examine the feasibility and > commitment to > reintroduce the species, which was extirpated from India about six > decades > ago. > > Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, > communicated, “I feel that we owe it to the animal whose very name is > derived from Sanskrit and that was once so ubiquitous in our country > to at > least analyse the pros and cons, examine the advantages and risks in a > dispassionate and professional manner drawing on the best > international > expertise on the subject.” > > “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 > but I will be guided by the consensus amongst the experts on this > matter.” > > The meeting addressed several primary issues pertaining to cheetah > reintroduction including habitat and prey availability, man-animal > conflict > and source of the reintroduction stock, amongst others. The meeting > was > chaired by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar and was attended by officials > from the > Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, Chief > Wildlife > Wardens of four states - Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and > Chhattisgarh > that hold potential sites for cheetah reintroduction, > representatives from > the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), IUCN, international cheetah > experts, > and members of Indian and International NGOs. > > Dr MK Ranjitsinh, Chairman, WTI, stressed on the benefits of cheetah > reintroduction, to the endangered grassland-forest habitats of > India, and > the fauna and flora within. “If the project succeeds, we will not > only be > returning the species to India, but will also be securing > grasslands, which > despite being the most productive are also among the least studied and > excessively abused of Indian habitats, and a number of endangered > species > that survive within these habitats,” he said. > > Dr Yadvendradev Jhala of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), gave a > comparison on the potential cheetah reintroduction sites in India. > He said > that in terms of habitat suitability, density of human settlements, > and > other considerations, cheetah reintroduction was possible in certain > sites. > However, site-specific imrovements would be necessary. > > Dr Rajesh Gopal, Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation > Authority > (NTCA) highlighted the potential threats to reintroduced animals, > comparing > it with those faced by the tiger in India. > > The Chief Wildlife Wardens (CWLW) of the four states gave a pragmatic > assessment to the ground realities for the project. Shri NK > Srivastava, > CWLW, Gujarat, summed up the concerns raised during the meeting, and > pointed > out that several issues such as habitat, prey availability, conflict > with > humans etc associated with the proposed reintroduction will have to be > examined in greater detail. > > The meeting also addressed the issue of the source of seed stock for > reintroduction. Several foreign experts participating in the meeting > endorsed the project’s proposal of bringing cheetahs from Africa for > reintroduction. > > Dr Stephen J O’Brien, the world’s leading conservation geneticist, > and the > Chief of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Cancer > Institute (NCI), said that the African and Iranian cheetah are > genetically > very similar. They are just 4500-5000 years apart, which is not > enough even > for a sub-species level differenciation. In comparison, the African > and the > Asiatic lion sub-species were separated about 100,000 years ago; > likewise, > the African and Asian leopard sub-species were separated about > 169,000 years > ago. “Your decisions should not be based on the genetic arguments,” he > added, as there is no significant difference between the African and > the > Asiatic cheetah. > > Dr Laurie Marker, renowned cheetah expert, said, “Cheetahs have gone > extinct > from 15 countries in the last 60 years. Iran has less than 100 > cheetahs. For > reintroduction purposes, I will not recommend taking any individuals > from > Iran.” > > The participants will now work on preparing a road map to be > presented to > the Central Government for approval. However, a lot of extensive > studies > will have to be done before the project plan is finalised. > > Copyright mediaforfreedom.com > *http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090710/nation.htm#25* > *Move to ‘Import’ Cheetah > Wildlife experts remain unimpressed > Vibha Sharma > Tribune News Service* > > New Delhi, July 9 > India’s decision to explore the possibility of bringing in cheetahs > from > abroad to revive the long-legged spotted cat, now extinct in the > country, > has not evoked a very encouraging response from eminent wildlife > professionals. > > Talking to The Tribune, animal experts Valmik Thapar and PK Sen said > the > proposal was not something they would personally like to support. > They felt > a better idea would be to instead concentrate on conserving the > wildlife > assets India has today. > > “It’s a very difficult task and not something I would like to > propagate. My > suggestion would be to look after animals as they are today and make > sure > they are kept safe. Once they have achieved that they can pursue other > objectives,” said Thapar. > > Former Project Tiger director and Ranthambore Foundation executive > director > PK Sen also supports this point of view, saying it would be better > if India > concentrated on saving the fast dwindling numbers of tigers, lions and > leopards in its jungles. “Every year we lose hundreds of leopards to > poaching. The probability (of bringing back the cheetah) is very low > - I > feel it’s a waste of effort. If they think there is a probability of > accomplishing this, let them prove it first. I think it's just another > impractical idea floated by some high-level conservationists,” he > added. > > Sources said the environment & forests ministry plans to hold a review > meeting on the issue at Gajner in Bikaner district where plenty of > prey for > cheetahs is available. “The possibility (of reintroducing the > cheetah) will > be studied on the spot there,” they added. > > Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday the > government was looking into the possibility of bringing the extinct > animal > to India. “The cheetah is the only animal that has been declared > extinct in > India in the last 1,000 years. We have to get them from abroad to > repopulate > the species,” he said, responding to a calling attention notice from > the > BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy. He then added: “We hope to do so soon.” > > The notice followed a debate in the House with Ramesh admitting the > situation in 16 of the 37 tiger reserves in the country was “truly > alarming”. Which is why the big question - is India, where the > number of > tigers is steadily decreasing every year, ready to receive the > extinct big > cat? > > Terming the ‘reintroduction’ of the cheetah a “highly complicated > task, > primarily due to lack of a suitable habitat” in the country, Thapar > explained this atypical member of the cat family is a very fragile > animal > that requires lot of care. “It needs large stretches of grasslands, > which > the country doesn’t have anymore as most of them have been converted > to > fields for farming. So where will the cheetah live?” he questioned. > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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