Cheetah Conservation clears the air

MORE than a week after the Indian Supreme Court halted the import of Namibian cheetahs, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) of Namibia has decided to lift the veil on its involvement in the project.

The first 15 cheetahs were expected to be released at the Kunopalpur sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh by next month, but after objections filed by the state of Gujarat against the Indian government’s decision to undertake Project Cheetah, armed with a budget of about N$452,4 million, to restore the animals’ lost heritage in that country.The founder and Executive Director of the CCF, Dr Laurie Marker saw it fit to clarify the organisation’s involvement in the reintroduction of cheetahs in India.’CCF is not a part of any of the negotiations or decisions being made on the Indian side and therefore we can only continue to provide advice and support, as we have thus far,’ she said in a statement.According to court documents the CCF would have donated the animals to the Indian government and the organisation in an earlier statement also pointed out its role in the project.’CCF is currently gathering information about animals for possible export to India, and pending all import permits necessary to abide by CITES regulations, cheetahs might be roaming in India once again as early as 2012,’ Marker said in an earlier statement before the project was scuppered by India’s highest court. ‘Careful consideration of the genetics of the Asiatic cheetah and its only remaining population found in Iran (less that 100) led to the conclusion that the cheetahs participating in this project should be imported from southern Africa, where the largest populations of wild cheetah still exist.’ The issue of relocating cheetahs from Namibia was raised during the hearing of the matter on the reintroduction of Asiatic Lions from Gujarat’s Gir National Park and Sanctuary and surrounding areas to Palpur Kuno Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.According to Marker the most viable release area for the first reintroduction is the Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in central India. The sanctuary is home to many species, including a variety of antelope, deer, wolves, and leopards. The absence of lions, the cheetah’s non-aggressive nature, and work already done with the communities were also decisive factors. She said that, in an advisory capacity, and in consultation with the reintroduction team, CCF has been working with the WTI and India’s authorities to discuss the best strategies for this re-introduction and providing its expertise based on proven successful programmes implemented in Namibia and other areas of Africa.’CCF believes that the project is sustainable to the extent that all recommendations made by the international consultants and Indian research teams are followed, and these include necessary infrastructure changes as well as community involvement and education.’About 45 cheetahs, donated by CCF, would have been sent to India.

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