Gujarat gears up for cheetah breeding centre at Banni as CZA gives green signal

Sub: Env

Sec: Protected Areas

Context:

Central Zoo Authority (CZA) approved a cheetah conservation breeding centre in Gujarat’s Banni grasslands to reintroduce cheetahs after decades.
The centre will house 16 cheetahs, aiming to restore India’s wildlife heritage.

Project Details and Funding:

Banni was chosen for its savannah-like habitat, similar to East Africa, and the historical presence of cheetahs until the early 1940s.
A 500-hectare enclosure is created for the centre, planning to translocate cheetahs mainly from Namibia or South Africa.
The project focuses on developing and breeding cheetahs rather than tourism.
Efforts to improve 14,000 hectares of grasslands and a chinkara breeding program aim to increase the prey base.
Gujarat will become the only Indian state with both Asiatic lions and cheetahs.
The Banni project follows the cheetah reintroduction at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

National CAMPA Approval and Regional Environment:

The Gujarat government’s proposal received approval from the National CAMPA executive committee.
The absence of apex predators like leopards in Banni provides a favourable environment for cheetahs.

Banni grasslands:

Banni grasslands and Kachchh Desert Sanctuary cover 5000 km², with parts inundated during the rainy season.
Banni Grasslands Reserve or Banni grasslands form a belt of arid grassland ecosystem on the outer southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of Rann of Kutch in Kutch District, Gujarat State, India. They are known for their rich wildlife and biodiversity.
They are currently legally protected under the status of a protected or reserve forest in India.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified this grassland reserve as one of the last remaining habitats of the cheetah in India.
A report suggests proper management could support up to 55 cheetahs, considering the region’s diverse carnivores and seasonal bird visitors.

Source: HT