Project Cheetah: Shelved Plans on Relocation and Surrogacy

Context:

Certain proposals under Project Cheetah—such as relocating older cheetahs to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and initiating a surrogacy programme—have been shelved by the Cheetah Project Steering Committee.

Project Cheetah

Launched: 2022
Objective: To reintroduce cheetahs in India after their extinction in 1952.
Implementing Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and international partners.
First Release Site: Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
Source of Cheetahs: Namibia and South Africa.

Key Facts from the Article

The Steering Committee discussed relocating older cheetahs (not fit for breeding) to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Proposal to start surrogacy programme using techniques such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo transfer, inspired by examples in the USA (Ohio Zoo, 2020).
Madhya Pradesh wildlife officials and the committee have decided not to act on these suggestions currently.
Proposal to boost prey base in Kuno by translocating blackbucks from Agra’s Sikandara Monument premises.
Female cheetahs can reproduce until approximately 10–12 years of age in the wild.

Ecological Considerations

Maintaining genetic diversity is crucial for a reintroduced population.
Expanding prey base is essential to sustain predator populations and prevent human-wildlife conflict.
Relocation to other sanctuaries like Gandhi Sagar can help reduce pressure on Kuno but also requires adequate habitat readiness.

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