Madhya Pradesh

• 07 Nov 2024

MP-Rajasthan Joint Panel on Cheetah Conservation

Why in News?

Following recent incidents of cheetahs from Madhya Pradesh straying into Rajasthan, a joint corridor management committee has been established by both states to support cheetah conservation.

Key Points

• About the Joint Corridor Management Committee:
  • The committee will assess suitable areas for the future relocation of cheetahs from Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (KNP) and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
    • Recommendations will include habitat improvements, particularly for the pre-augmentation base.
  • The committee will evaluate options for joint tourist routes, potentially covering border areas like the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, KNP, and Ranthambore National Park.
• Cheetah Reintroduction Project in KNP:
  • As part of the reintroduction project, eight cheetahs from Namibia were brought to KNP in September 2022, followed by twelve cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023.
    • The initiative aims to restore the cheetah population, which was declared extinct in India in 1952.
  • However, since its inception, the project has faced numerous challenges, including the deaths of many adult cheetahs and the mortalities of cubs reported over the past two years.
    • As of now, KNP is home to 24 cheetahs, including cubs.

Kuno National Park (KNP)

• KNP which is located in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district is home to several cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa.
• It was initially established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1981 and later designated as a national park in 2018.