India just rejected 3 cheetahs from Namibia because they couldn't hunt for prey
A cheetah undergoing health examination in Namibia for translocation to India. Photo: @IndiainNamibia/Twitter
India is eagerly awaiting the arrival of cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno Palpur National Park in Madhya Pradesh. When they do come, it will be a momentous occasion. The process is underway, but there's a slight change. Three earmarked cheetahs have been replaced by other cheetahs, TOI reported.
Why? Three cheetahs that were earmarked for translocation to India were found to be captive-bred and unable to hunt for prey, according to a report in TOI. India has rejected these three cheetahs and they are now being replaced with wild-caught ones.
Why is it necessary? The cheetahs from Namibia will be making Kuno Palpur National Park in India their home. India wants the cheetahs to be able to survive in the wild by themselves rather than relying on humans and human-fed food. Kuno Palpur National Park is also home to other wild animals like leopards. If the cheetahs are unable to hunt for prey, they will not be able to compete with leopards for food and may even become prey to other wild animals.
It is unlikely that the captive-bred cheetahs will be able to survive in the wild. The need to check their ability to survive is essential as cheetahs are on the verge of extinction in the world and only a handful of them remain. Endangering their lives by translocating them to a place where it is hard for them to survive will prove detrimental to their already dwindling population numbers.
The latest updates on the translocation program:
Indep Day exclusive: Cheetahs, potential candidates fr transfer to Kuno NP, MP in due course, undergo thorough 1st health exam by int'l team of experts @CCFCheetah led by renowned specialist Dr. Laurie Marker. High Commissioner Prashant Agrawal was present. We thank Namibia MEFT pic.twitter.com/C0A1nH2V5A
— India In Namibia (@IndiainNamibia) August 15, 2022
1. The cheetahs are undergoing quarantine in Namibia. Now, the three new wild-caught cheetahs will also have to complete a month of quarantine in Namibia before they can be translocated to India.
2. India will also need approval from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for the translocation. CITES prevents the smuggling of threatened animal species. All imports and exports of threatened species should be licensed by CITES. A scientific community of experts will first certify that the translocation of the animals will not be detrimental to their survival. And only upon positive review, they can be transported elsewhere.
3. In Kuno Palpur National Park, authorities are finding it difficult to remove leopards from the special enclosure area, where the cheetahs are supposed to be introduced. Leopards have dodged traps and baits so far and authorities are now using two specially-trained elephants to flush out the big cats. Cheetahs will first be introduced in an electrically fenced area to help them get familiar with the change and landscape. They will be fully released in the national park once they adapt to the change.
Elephants have been brought by the Kuno National park adminstration to search for leapords last traced a week back in soft enclosures meant for cheetahs. #kuno #Cheetah #elephants @GauravS_IFS @AnkitKumar_IFS pic.twitter.com/t51SGFdhqY
— Atul Kutar (@ATULKUTAR) August 18, 2022
4. India is also trying to get cheetahs from South Africa, but the MoU is still pending.
When will they arrive? The cheetahs were supposed to arrive in India in August, just in time for the 76th Independence Day. But it has been delayed. Now, Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Vijay Shah has told TOI that they will be here "anyhow by November". The cheetahs are supposed to reach in the first week of November.
Context: Cheetahs went extinct in India in the early 50s. The cheetahs will be coming to India for the first after nearly 70 years since they went extinct. However, it is not exactly the same kind of cheetahs that are coming. India was home to Asiatic Cheetahs, which are now only found in Iran. The ones being relocated from Namibia are African Cheetahs.