Context

• Recently a cheetah named Pawan (brought under Project Cheetah) roaming outside the enclosures in Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh died by drowning.
• The Forest officials suspect it may have been poisoned, as the cheetah was seen swimming in the Chambal River only a few days ago.  

What is Project Cheetah (Cheetah Rehabilitation Project)?

• The 'Cheetah Rehabilitation Project' was launched on September 17, 2022, to reintroduce the extinct species of cheetah in India.
• Under this project, cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia have been brought to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) are running this project in collaboration with experts from Namibia and South Africa.

Why is this project important?

• Cheetahs are a key carnivore species, which means they play a vital role in maintaining the health of their ecosystems.
• The project aims to restore a significant part of India's wildlife.
• This effort also demonstrates India's commitment to wildlife conservation on a global scale.

Challenges of Project Cheetah:

• Acclimatisation: Acclimatisation of cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to the Indian climate and ecosystem is a major challenge.
• Diseases: There is always a risk of diseases in a new environment.
• Availability of prey: Providing adequate prey for cheetahs in Kuno National Park is also a constant challenge.
• Habitat: It is important to provide adequate and suitable habitat for cheetahs in Kuno National Park.
• Human activities: Human activities around the park, such as hunting and grazing, pose a threat to cheetahs.
• Climate change: An increase in temperature and changes in rainfall due to climate change can be challenging for cheetahs.

Why did cheetahs become extinct in India?

• Overhunting: Cheetahs were hunted extensively in the 19th and 20th centuries. Poachers loved cheetahs for their skins, and fur and as sport prey.
• Habitat loss: The natural habitat of cheetahs continued to diminish due to the growing human population and expansion of agriculture. Forests were cleared and converted into farms and settlements.
• Loss of prey: The number of cheetahs' prey, such as deer, decreased, which reduced the availability of food for cheetahs.
• Diseases: Cheetahs were also affected by diseases at times, which led to a decline in their population.
• Competition with other animals: Cheetahs had to compete with other predators, such as leopards and wolves, which caused them to struggle for food and territory.

Cheetah (scientific name - Acinonyx Jubatus)

African Cheetah:

• Habitat: Mainly found in the African savanna plains.
• Southern Africa is said to be their regional stronghold.
• IUCN conservation status: "Vulnerable"  

Asiatic Cheetah:

• They are light yellow.
• Habitat: Republic of Iran
• IUCN Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):

• It is a statutory body of the Government of India.
• Formed: 1973, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• Main objective: To arrest the declining number of tigers in the country and increase their population.