The return of the cheetah to Indian soil is a major event in global conservation. After an absence of over seven decades, the world’s fastest land animal once again roams in a country where it was declared extinct. This undertaking attempts to restore a piece of a complex ecological puzzle. The reintroduction has captured international attention, sparking conversations about ecological restoration.
The Original Indian Cheetah
The cheetah that once thrived across the Indian subcontinent was the Asiatic cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus venaticus. Its historical range stretched across the grasslands and open forests of India, Pakistan, and other parts of Central Asia. The word “cheetah” has roots in Sanskrit, highlighting its cultural connection to the region. For centuries, they were part of the landscape, and royalty often tamed them for hunting, a practice that contributed to their decline.
The decline of the Asiatic cheetah was driven by several factors. Widespread sport hunting by local nobility and during the British Raj reduced their numbers. This was compounded by the loss of grassland habitats to agriculture and human settlement. A reduction in their natural prey, such as blackbuck, also squeezed the remaining populations.
The native cheetah’s final chapter in India was written in the mid-20th century. The last three documented individuals were shot in 1947 in the state of Madhya Pradesh. With no confirmed sightings in the years that followed, the Asiatic cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. Today, the only wild population of this subspecies is a small group found exclusively in Iran.
Project Cheetah Reintroduction Initiative
The plan to bring cheetahs back to India is the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore. After years of planning and overcoming legal challenges, India’s Supreme Court approved an experimental reintroduction in 2020. The initiative, named Project Cheetah, aims to return the animal to its former range and re-establish its ecological role.
Because the original Asiatic cheetah population in Iran is too small for translocation, the project turned to the Southeast African cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus jubatus. The decision was based on genetic studies and the availability of a donor population in Africa. The first phase involved relocating cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa, beginning in September 2022.
Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was selected as the initial reintroduction site. The park’s habitat was deemed suitable after surveys, with an adequate prey base like chital (spotted deer) and a landscape of grasslands and open forests. The goal was to provide a protected space for the animals to acclimate and establish a breeding population.
Current Status and Adaptation
The project’s initial phase began on September 17, 2022, when eight cheetahs from Namibia were released into quarantine at Kuno National Park. A second group of 12 cheetahs from South Africa followed in February 2023. After acclimatization, the animals were released into the park’s free-ranging environment, all fitted with radio collars for monitoring.
The project has seen notable successes. A milestone occurred in March 2023 when a Namibian female gave birth to four cubs, the first born on Indian soil in over 70 years. This event demonstrated that the translocated cheetahs could reproduce in their new environment. Surviving animals have also been observed hunting and navigating the terrain.
However, the project has faced serious challenges. As of early 2024, several translocated adults and some cubs have died. Reported causes of death include territorial conflicts, infections, and health complications like dehydration and kidney issues. These losses prompted authorities to recapture the remaining cheetahs for observation, highlighting the project’s steep learning curve.
The mortality rate has raised concerns among experts about the project’s management and habitat suitability. Some have pointed to factors like the cheetahs’ winter coats being too thick for India’s summer heat and potential unforeseen diseases. In response, a steering committee was established to review progress, monitor the animals, and guide future actions, including considering an alternative site.
Ecological Significance and Future Outlook
The cheetah’s reintroduction is an effort to restore the ecological balance of India’s grassland and open forest ecosystems. Cheetahs are a keystone species, meaning their presence affects the health of their environment. By preying on herbivores, they help regulate herd populations, which prevents overgrazing and promotes healthier vegetation. These conservation efforts are expected to revitalize these biomes, much like Project Tiger benefited forest ecosystems.
The long-term vision for Project Cheetah extends beyond Kuno National Park. The goal is to establish a self-sustaining metapopulation of around 40 individuals to act as a source for other habitats across India. Other locations, like the Nauradehi and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuaries, have been assessed as future homes to create a network of populations and ensure genetic diversity. This metapopulation approach is designed to build resilience and reduce the risk of localized extinctions.
Project Cheetah is a long-term ecological experiment. Its outcomes will provide lessons for conservation science, particularly in large carnivore translocation and ecosystem restoration. The project requires continuous monitoring, adaptive management, and international collaboration to navigate the complexities of re-establishing the species. Its future success depends on learning from challenges and adapting its strategies.