Centre sets up nine members task force to monitor Cheetahs

New Delhi: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has constituted a Task Force to monitor the process of adaption and other suitable designated areas of Cheetahs which were introduced in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would facilitate the working of the Cheetah Task Force and render all necessary help.

The decision was taken after the Prime Minister recently reintroduced the first batch of 12 cheetahs from Namibia last month in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.

The country is also expected to get 12 more cheetahs from South Africa this year, but the paperwork between the two countries is yet to be finalised.

According to the official statement, the nine members’ task force shall be in-force for a period of two years.
“This task force may appoint a subcommittee to regularly visit the Cheetah introduction area as and when decided by them” it said.

The task force also helps in reviewing, progressing and monitoring the health status of Cheetahs, upkeep of the quarantine and soft release enclosures, protection status of the entire area, and adherence to the defined protocols by forest and veterinary officials.

It also helps monitor the hunting skills and adaptation of Cheetahs to the habitat, including the development of tourism infrastructure in the fringe areas of Kuno National Park and other protected areas.

The task force will hold regularly interact with Cheetah mitras and local communities for their awareness raising and also be involved in the protection of Cheetahs.

The Ministry said the Cheetah restoration is part of a prototype or model for the restoration of original cheetah habitats and their biodiversity.

“This will help to stem the degradation and rapid loss of biodiversity. Bringing back a top predator restores historic evolutionary balance resulting in cascading effects on various levels of the eco-system” it said.