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For: The opinion Posted Jan 28, 2023, 0:10 am EST
After more than 70 years after the Asian cheetah was declared extinctthe Indian government seeks reinsert that species into its territory and for this it reached an agreement with South Africa.
India’s Ministry of Environment announced that both nations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the reintroduction of cheetahs in the Asian country.
“Under the agreement, an initial batch of 12 cheetahs will be flown from South Africa to India in February 2023. The cats will join eight cheetahs introduced to India from Namibia during 2022,” the ministry said.
Inter-Governmental Agreement to reintroduce Cheetah to India from South Africa concludes
In terms of the agreement, an initial batch of 12 cheetahs are to be flown from South Africa to India during February 2023.
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The Indian government believes that the restoration of cheetah populations as a priority for that country and it will have far-reaching and vital consequences for conservation, which is intended to achieve a number of ecological goals.
This effort to reintroduce these cats gained momentum in 2020when the Supreme Court of India ruled that the african cheetahsa different subspecies, could be introduced into the country at a “carefully chosen site” on an experimental basis.
The Authorities hope to establish a viable and secure cheetah population in India and hope that cooperation with South Africa promotes conservation and ensures that expertise is shared and exchanged and capacity is built to promote cheetah conservation.
Eight cheetahs will arrive from the Republic of Namibia last September and they were released in Kuno National Parka wildlife sanctuary located 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of New Delhi, selected for its abundant game and grasslands.
The extinction of the Asian cheetah
The Asian cheetah originally stretched from the Arabian peninsula to India, through Iran and Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Iran and India they were especially numerous.
India was once the home of the Asian cheetah, but the animal was declared extinct in 1952mainly due to habitat loss and deaths at the hands of hunters looking for their characteristic spotted skins.
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