(IN): State govts reluctant to bring the cheetah to India

September 11, 2009

01109-3.html

State govts reluctant to bring the cheetah to India

*Gajner, Rajasthan:* The cheetah is perhaps the only animal to have gone

extinct since independence. Now the Environment Minister *Jairam Ramesh* has

promised to bring the cheetah back to India 40 years after it went extinct.

Preliminary meetings suggest that state governments are reluctant to set

aside land for the cheetah.

" The only mammal to go extinct since independence in India is cheetah. We

plan to bring the cheetah back in India, " said Ramesh at the Parliament.

Less than two months since the announcement, hectic preparations are on to

make this a reality. Wildlife biologists are already at work identifying

possible sites for the release of African cheetahs in India.

" Kutch in Gujarat is the most promising area with 9000 sq kms. We can have

20-30 cheetahs over there, " said wildlife scientist, Y V Jhala.

However, given India's poor track record in protecting its the Indian tiger,

is it a good idea to bring in the cheetah? At the meeting organised by the

Ministry of Environment and Forest and Wildlife Trust of India, state

governments showed apprehension.

" I don't think it's a wise idea, " said Chief Wildlife Warden, Rajasthan, R N

Mehrotra.

International cheetah experts are more optimistic. They believe the cheetah

will serve as a flagship species for conserving vast tracts of grassland

which have so far not been protected adequately.

" 50 per cent of people stay in cities and as more and more people move to

the cities, we can use the land that they leave behind and regenerate it to

sustain wildlife and especially cheetah, " said Cheetah Expert, Namibia,

Laurie Marker.

If the state governments do agree then 5-10 cheetahs will be brought in from

Africa, put in semi-wild enclosures. Once acclimatised they will be released

into the wild, to hunt animals like the blackbuck and the chinkara.

It's vegetations that the blackbuck and chinkara feed on which in turn will

be food for the cheetah, but the question is will India have enough land for

the fastest animal on planet earth?

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