Madhya Pradesh: A former Wildlife Institute of India (WII) official has claimed that Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh was brought from Africa. There is not enough room for cheetahs. Let us tell you that two cheetahs have died in KNP in less than a month. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which is overseeing the ambitious cheetah restoration project in the country, has transferred tigers from Namibia and South Africa to the KNP over the past eight months, an official said. among the cheetahs In view of the death of two leopards, a meeting has been called in New Delhi.

1 Cheetah to 154 Square kilometer area required According to some wildlife experts a cheetah Square kilometer area is required. Core Area of ​​KNP 750 Square Kilometers and Buffer Zone square kilometers. Former Dean of WII Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala told that KNP does not have enough space for these cheetahs. Jhala has previously been a part of the Cheetah Restoration Plan. He said- 750 square kilometer area is not enough for these cheetahs Is. We also have to increase the population of cheetahs. That’s why it is very important for us to keep these cheetahs in three to four places in the country.

Appropriate compensation in case of man-animal conflict Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala told- Kuno is a protected area, but the landscape in which cheetah can live in Kuno is 5, It is spread over square kilometer, which includes agricultural area, forest area and residential area. He said that if Cheetahs adapt to this environment, they will be able to flourish in KNP. Jhala said- So, it all depends on how we manage the residents of this area, such as encouraging these people as well as promoting ecotourism in the area and ensuring that if humans -If there is animal conflict then they should be compensated appropriately.

Cheetahs can be kept at these places When asked about cheetahs being resettled elsewhere, he said that apart from KNP, cheetahs can also be kept in Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve located in Rajasthan. He told that apart from this, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary are two places in Madhya Pradesh where cheetahs can be kept. He said- Each of these places is not viable in itself. Transferring cheetahs from one place to another after one or two generations of cheetahs is called metapopulation management so that there is genetic exchange and male and female cheetahs belonging to the same family do not breed with each other. This is an important task. Without this, we cannot manage cheetahs in our country.

Lack of adequate staff also A few days before this, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department had demanded an alternative site for the cheetahs brought from the Center to KNP citing lack of resources and space. A senior forest official of the state told on the condition of anonymity that since September last year, two batches were brought from Namibia and South Africa For the maintenance of cheetahs they have There is not enough resources (logistic support). The officer told that- we need nine employees to keep an eye on a leopard round the clock. We do not have enough staff.

requires a lot of resources When asked about the lack of space for cheetahs, he said- this issue is secondary, we need not only space but also a lot of resources. 8 cheetahs from Namibia in September 750 and this year as part of the Cheetah Restoration Project from South Africa in February The cheetahs were shifted to KNP in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. These 20 Two of the cheetahs have died, due to which their number has decreased happened.

madhya pradeshKuno National ParkPublished Date

Sun, Apr 30, 2023, 7: 08 PM IST