Indore: Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh is all set and prepared for re-introduction of Cheetah with the least investments expected, concluded the assessment report by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) right after assessing six shortlisted web pages in the nation.
“For free ranging cheetah that would serve as a flagship and also perform their ecological role in a restored savannah-woodland system, clearly 1) Kuno National ParkSheopur Forest landscape and 2) Gandhi Sagar-Chittorgarh-Bhainsrodgarh Wild Life Sanctuary (WLS) with parts of Mukundara TR landscape adequately meet the criteria,” mentioned the report.
It added that of these two, Kuno National Park is prepared with the least investments expected for reintroduction, whilst the Gandhi Sagar- Bhainsrodgarh landscape calls for concurrence from the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and investments in terms of prey supplementation and protection
The assessed web pages assessed in Rajasthan had been: Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve Shergarh WLS and Gandhi Sagar WLS. In Madhya Pradesh, Kuno National Park Madhav National Park and Nauradehi WLS had been accessed.
Further, the report mentioned, “Nauradehi WLS has very high potential initially for housing a fenced population and later of becoming a free ranging population as well. Investments required here were for fencing and prey restoration.”
//To bring Cheetah, Government of Madhya Pradesh has to allocate…
a) Territorial Neemuch and Mandsaur Division ranges adjoining Gandhi Sagar WLS as buffer and element of the bigger Cheetah conservation landscape
b) Prey augmentation in Gandhi Sagar WLS
c) Fencing element of Nauradehi WLS and prey augmentation
Based on the response from the two states, additional actions will be taken up by WII and NTCA for the reintroduction of cheetah in India, mentioned the report.
Further, it mentioned that permission for work on assessment of prey is becoming sought for Mukundara TR, Kuno NP and Nauradehi WLS from the Chief Wildlife Wardens of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
//Kuno National Park: monitored considering that 2006, apt for lion & cheetah
It has been on a regular basis monitored considering that 2006 for lion reintroduction and it is due to the efforts of forest dept on rehabilitation of villages from inside the core location, and declaration of National Park status, that Kuno has shown outstanding recovery in its habitat, prey abundance and reduction of human impacts.
Due to delays in lion reintroduction the internet site was deemed for cheetah reintroduction in 2010. However, Supreme Court in its order on the reintroduction of the Asiatic Lion in Kuno in 2013, also ruled against the reintroduction of the cheetah in Kuno.
Subsequent, to affidavits filed by NTCA explaining that cheetah reintroduction would not influence lion reintroductions in any adverse manner, SC has permitted cheetah introduction on an “experimental basis in a careful chosen habitat and nurtured and watched to see whether it can adapt to the Indian conditions”