Wildlife Recap 2024: The Highs and Lows of Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park

Keywords: Project Cheetah, Kuno National Park, cheetah conservation, wildlife reintroduction, habitat management, prey base enhancement, biodiversity, human-wildlife conflict, cheetah relocation, wildlife highlights 2024.

Introduction

The reintroduction of cheetahs in India under Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh, was one of the most anticipated wildlife initiatives of the decade. This year marked significant developments in the project, revealing a mix of successes, challenges, and lessons for wildlife conservation.

The Year in Review: Top 10 Highlights of Project Cheetah

1. Population Update: A Year of Mixed Success
   • Out of the 20 cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa in 2022-2023, 14 survived, while 6 succumbed to various causes.
2. Breeding Milestone
   • A major highlight was the birth of four cheetah cubs, signaling early signs of adaptation and reproduction within KNP’s habitat.
3. Mortality Causes and Habitat Challenges
   • The fatalities highlighted challenges such as territorial conflicts, climatic adaptation issues, and occasional prey shortages. Experts have called for additional measures to improve habitat suitability.
4. Monitoring and Technology
   • The project utilized cutting-edge radio-collar technology for tracking the cheetahs, although technical glitches in some collars raised concerns about monitoring efficiency.
5. Prey Base Enhancement
   • Efforts to boost Kuno’s prey base included introducing blackbuck, chital, and sambar to ensure a stable food supply for the cheetahs.
6. Cheetah Relocations: Exploring New Sites
   • Discussions began on relocating some cheetahs to other reserves like Gandhisagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh to reduce population pressure on Kuno.
7. Community Engagement
   • Local communities were actively involved in conservation efforts, with several initiatives promoting awareness about cheetah behavior and the ecological significance of the project.
8. Human-Wildlife Conflict Management
   • Instances of cheetahs straying into human settlements were effectively managed, though they highlighted the need for better conflict mitigation strategies.
9. International Partnerships
   • South Africa and Namibia continued to provide technical support and additional cheetahs, solidifying international cooperation for wildlife conservation.
10. The Road Ahead

• The government announced plans to bring in more cheetahs and diversify the gene pool, aiming for a self-sustaining population by 2030.

Lessons Learned

Project Cheetah has underscored the complexities of species reintroduction programs. The year’s challenges highlighted the need for:

• Improved habitat management to ensure cheetah survival.
• Expanding to additional parks for reducing habitat stress.
• More rigorous scientific studies to address adaptation hurdles.

Conclusion

While 2024 brought mixed results for Project Cheetah, it also reinforced India’s commitment to conserving its wildlife and restoring lost species. The project serves as a crucial learning curve for future translocation efforts and remains a global case study in conservation science.

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