Madhya Pradesh plans New Home for Cheetahs

• 21 Dec 2024

Why in News? 

The Cheetah Action Plan for Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary includes analyzing cheetah genetics, relocating leopards, and boosting prey numbers in preparation for the cheetah reintroduction in 2025. 

 Key Points 

• Action Plan for Cheetah Introduction: 
  • Initial Release: 6-8 cheetahs will be introduced in a 64 sq. km predator-proof enclosure in the sanctuary's West Range. 
  • Prey Base: The area supports adequate prey including chinkara, nilgai, and other species, with an estimated 1,560-2,080 prey animals required annually. 
  • Current Prey Availability: The area currently has 475 animals, being supplemented with 1,500 additional prey like chital and blackbuck. 
• Leopard Challenge and Mitigation: 
  • Leopard Population: The West Range has about 70 leopards, posing a threat to cheetahs, particularly cubs, due to competition for prey. 
  • Leopard Translocation: All leopards within the fenced area will be captured and relocated before the cheetahs are introduced. 
  • Ongoing Strategy: This effort is part of a decade-long strategy to stabilize the cheetah population, including Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking of 10 leopards for research on carnivore interactions. 
• Cheetah Population and Genetic Strategy: 
  • Importing Cheetahs: A population of 12-14 cheetahs (8-10 males, 4-6 females) will be imported from African reserves to create a genetically diverse population. 
  • Genetic Diversity: Cheetahs will be selected based on genetic compatibility to avoid inbreeding, with analysis using micro-satellite and genomic techniques. 
  • Individual Monitoring: Cheetah profiles will be maintained for demographic studies and to monitor survival and health. 
• Ecological Impact and Prey Species Management: 
  • Ecological Effects: The introduction of cheetahs will affect prey species' behavior, requiring potential supplementation of blackbuck, chital, and nilgai. 
  • Radio-Collaring Prey: Some prey animals will be radio-collared to study their adaptation to the new predator presence. 
  • Restoration Plans: The sanctuary's habitat restoration is part of a broader cheetah conservation plan, with other sites like Rajasthan’s Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve also identified for cheetah populations. 
• Current Cheetah Status: 
  • Kuno National Park currently houses 24 cheetahs (including 12 cubs), with two cheetahs recently released into the open forest. 

 Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary 

• Location: 
  • Notified in 1974, encompassing the districts of Mandsaur and Neemuch in western Madhya Pradesh, bordering Rajasthan.  
  • The Chambal River bifurcates the sanctuary into two nearly equal parts, with the Gandhi Sagar Dam situated within the sanctuary. 
• Ecosystem:  
  • Its ecosystem is characterised by its rocky terrain and shallow topsoil, which supports a savanna ecosystem.  
  • This comprises open grasslands interspersed with dry deciduous trees and shrubs. Additionally, the riverine valleys within the sanctuary are evergreen.