GLS LAW COLLEGE

ANIMAL PROTECTION LAW ASSIGNMENT

“PROJECT CHEETAH – 2010”

SUBMITTED BY
Shah Pratham - 01
Dave Kandarp - 09

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Ms. Sonal Rawal
Asst. Professor,
GLS Law College,
Ahmedabad.
PROJECT CHEETAH - 2010
 INTRODUCTION
• The cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) is one of the oldest of the big
cat species, with ancestors that can be traced back more than
five million years to the Miocene era.
• There are estimated to be only 7,100 cheetahs left in the
wild, and their future remains uncertain across their range.
• Cheetahs are listed as “vulnerable” by the International
Union For The Conservation Of Nature (IUCN) red list of
threatened species, but after a recent study revealed
significant population declines, scientists are calling for
cheetahs to be uplisted to “endangered.” In north Africa and
Asia, they are considered “critically endangered.”
• The country’s last spotted feline died in Chhattisgarh in
1947. Later, the cheetah - which is the fastest land animal -
was declared extinct in India in 1952.
 CHEETAH
• The cheetah is a highly specialized animal adapted for speed, at a top
speed of 110-120 km/h the cheetah is the fastest land animal. With
great speed and dexterity, the cheetah is known for being an excellent
hunter, its kills feeding many other animals in its ecosystem -
ensuring that multiple species survive.

• In appearance, cheetahs are of light build, making them the lightest of

the big cats at 35-45kg for females, and 45-60kg for males. They
have long streamlined bodies and long, slim legs.

• One of the most prominent, distinguishing features of the cheetah are

the tear marks running from their eyes to their mouths.
 SUBSPECIES
SUBSPECIES DETAILS

Southeast African As of 2016, the largest population of nearly 4,000

cheetah (A. j. jubatus) individuals is sparsely distributed in Angola, Botswana,
Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.

Asiatic cheetah (A. j. As of 2016, only 43 individuals were estimated to survive

venaticus) in three subpopulations scattered in Iran's central plateau.

Northeast African This subspecies occurs in the northern Central African

cheetah (A. j. Republic, Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan in small and
soemmeringii) heavily fragmented populations.

Northwest African This subspecies occurs in Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso,

cheetah (A. j. hecki) Mali and Niger. In 2016, the largest population of 191
individuals occurred in Adrar des Ifoghas, Ahaggar
and Tassili n'Ajjer in south-central Algeria and
northeastern Mali.
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE OF
CHEETAH

Map showing the distribution of the Cheetah in 2015

 CHEETAH
REINTRODUCTION
PROGRAM IN INDIA
• The wildlife institute of India at dehradun had prepared a 260-crore
cheetah re-introduction project six years ago. It was estimated that an
amount of 25 crore to 30 crore would be needed to build an enclosure
in an area of 150 sq km for the cheetahs in Nauradehi. The proposal
was to put the felines in the enclosure with huge boundary walls
before being released in the wild, he said.
• Nauradehi was found to be the most suitable area for the cheetahs as
its forests are not very dense to restrict the fast movement of the
spotted cat. Besides, the prey base for cheetahs is also in abundance
at the sanctuary.
• According to the earlier action plan, around 20 cheetahs were to be
translocated to Nauradehi from Namibia in Africa. The Namibia
cheetah conservation fund had then showed its willingness to donate
the felines to India. However, the state was not ready to finance the
plan contending that it was the centre’s project.
 REINTRODUCTION PLAN
• In September 2009, the cheetah reintroduction plan made
significant progress when the ministry of environment &
forests, through the Wildlife Institute Of India (WII), organized
a meeting in Gajner, Rajasthan, to discuss the issue.
• The meeting was jointly organised by the WII in association
with the wildlife trust of India (WTI), a prominent Ngo based in
Delhi.
• The cheetah conservation fund, IUCN and other Ngos were
represented as were high-ranking officials of several state forest
departments.
• Minister Jairam Ramesh approved the recommendation for a
detailed survey of seven potential reintroduction sites (and three
holding sites for captive breeding) in four states, shortlisted
during the Gajner consultative meeting.
 INTRODUCTION OF AFRICAN
CHEETAH
• Since the Asiatic cheetah became extinct in India in 1947, plans to
reestablish the cheetah in India have been ongoing. For this purpose, a
meeting of cheetah experts was organized at Gajner in the Indian state
of Rajasthan in September 2009. Laurie marker of the cheetah conservation
fund, Stephen J. O'Brien, and other cheetah experts argued for the
introduction of the southern African cheetah as the Asiatic cheetah survives
only in Iran and its population numbers less than 100 individuals.
• The meeting also identified Namibia, south Africa, Botswana, Kenya,
Tanzania, and the UAE as countries from where the cheetah could be
imported to India. "About 5 to 10 animals annually have to be brought to
India over a period of 5 to 10 years," recommended another working group,
which was formed for exploring sourcing and translocation of the cheetah.
• The ministry of environment & forests approved the recommendation for a
detailed survey of potential reintroduction sites in the Indian states
of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, which were
shortlisted during the consultative meeting.
 POSSIBLE REINTRODUCTION
SITES
• Currently, wildlife experts have shortlisted three regions which
have the potential to support cheetah populations.
• The Nauradehi wildlife sanctuary and kuno-palpur wildlife
sanctuaries in Madhya pradesh and the shahgarh bulge
landscape in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan have been declared potentially
suitable for the reintroduction of the cheetah.
• The kuno-palpur wildlife sanctuary in Madhya pradesh has the
potential to hold populations of four of India's big cats; the Bengal
tiger, Indian leopard, and Asiatic lion and Asiatic cheetah, all four
of which have co-existed in the same habitats historically for many
years, before they were wiped out due to overhunting and habitat
destruction.
PROPOSED REINTRODUCTION
SITES IN MADHYA PRADESH
AND RAJASTHAN
 WHO WILL BE AFFECTED?
• To prevent human - wildlife • Currently, these local
conflict and to ensure the communities have no access to
ethical implementation of modern amenities such as
project cheetah, human medical access, transportation,
settlements that may be markets, schools, and
affected will be given occasionally even to electricity.
generous and adequate Dacoits threaten some areas,
compensation for their role in while in others conflict with
this national initiative. 80 wildlife threatens livelihoods.
seasonally used human Aiding them in their Endeavour
settlements in the shahgarh to develop alternative
landscape and 23 settlements livelihoods will contribute to
in Nauradehi wildlife the success of project cheetah,
sanctuary may be relocated and will need
with the consent and to be an integral part of the
cooperation of the inhabitants. project.
 CONCERNS
• The Asiatic cheetah (acinonyx jubatus venaticus) has, for a long time, been
classified as a subspecies of the cheetah, with the suffix "venaticus" applied at
the end of its scientific binomial name acinonyx jubatus. However, at a cheetah
reintroduction workshop
• In India on 9 September 2009, Stephen J. O'Brien from the laboratory of
genomic diversity of national cancer institute of the united states said that
according to the latest genetic studies, the Asiatic cheetah was, in fact,
genetically identical to the African cheetah with which it had separated only
5,000 years ago. This was not enough time for a subspecies level differentiation;
O'Brien said that in comparison the Asiatic and African lion subspecies were
separated some 100,000 years ago, and African and Asian leopard
subspecies about 169,000 years ago.
• Subsequently, in 2011, a much more detailed five-year genetic study involving
gathering of DNA samples from the wild, zoos and museums in eight countries
was published in molecular ecology (journal) on 8 January 2011. This newer
study concluded that African and Asiatic cheetahs were genetically distinct and
separated 32,000 to 67,000 years ago. Subspecies level differentiation had taken
place due to longer separation from the African population.
 CURRENT STATUS
• On 28 January 2020, the supreme court allowed the central
government to introduce southern African cheetahs to a suitable
habitat in India as part of a trial to see if they can adapt. The
ruling came in response to an application filed by the national
tiger conservation authority (NTCA) seeking permission to
introduce southern African cheetahs from Namibia. The supreme
court set up a three-member committee to guide the NTCA and
asked the committee to submit a progress report every four
months.
 REFERENCES
• https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/02/25/cheetah-
reintroduction-project/

• https://wildfact.com/forum/topic-cheetah-reintroduction-in-
india

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=h
ttp://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/cheeta_report
_2010.pdf&ved=2ahukewi4ttv56pdvahwbbsskhshgcfkqfjateg
qierac&usg=aovvaw06ut8gy2u58rpyjfmvcjh3