Cheetah

Cheetah

Subject: Environment

Context: This year marked the arrival of Namibian cheetahs to India, the first intercontinental transfer of wild cats into the country since independence.

Content:

• Eight cheetahs were flown into the Kuno National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh, from Namibia on September 17 as part of an ambitious project to reintroduce the big cat into the country. They were released into the quarantine zone at the KNP.
• Cheetahs were once widespread in India as well as in many parts of the world until they were hunted to extinction.
• Only around 8,000of them survive, and overwhelmingly in Namibia and South Africa.
• A different species, called the Asiatic cheetah, once abundant in India, is found in Iran.

African Cheetah

• IUCN status – Vulnerable
• CITES status – Appendix-I of the List. This List comprises of migratory species that have been assessed as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
• Habitat – Around 6,500-7,000 African cheetahs present in the wild.
• Physical Characteristics – Bigger in size as compared to Asiatic Cheetah.

Asian Cheetah

• IUCN Status – Critically Endangered.
• CITES – Appendix I of the list
• Habitat – 40-50 found only in Iran.
• Physical Characteristics – Smaller and paler than the African cheetah. Has more fur, a smaller head and a longer neck. Usually have red eyes and they have a more cat-like appearance.

Kuno National Park

• It was established, in 1981, as a wildlife sanctuary in the Sheopur and Morena districts. It was also known as Kuno-Palpur and Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary.
• In 2018, it was given the status of a National Park.
• It is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.
• The protected area is largely dry, deciduous forest.