Relevance for UPSC (Paper – GS-3 / Subject – Environment & Biodiversity)

The Government of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) have cleared the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh as the third site under India’s Cheetah Reintroduction Programme. Spread across over 1,200 square kilometres, Nauradehi’s open grasslands, scrub forests, and moderate human presence make it ideal for supporting wild cheetahs.

The decision follows detailed habitat and prey-base assessments conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Preparations include the relocation of villages from the core area, habitat improvement, fencing, and prey augmentation to ensure a self-sustaining cheetah population.

Asian and African Cheetahs

• The Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) once roamed across India but was declared extinct in the 1950s due to hunting and habitat loss.
  
• The current project involves the African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus), imported from Namibia and South Africa, as the Asiatic population (now limited to Iran) is critically endangered.
  
• While there are minor genetic and ecological differences, experts believe African cheetahs can successfully adapt to India’s grassland habitats.
  

Cheetah Reintroduction Programme

• The initiative, called Project Cheetah, is implemented by NTCA under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  
• It follows the Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India (2022), aiming to establish a free-ranging population of cheetahs in suitable habitats.
  
• The first phase saw introductions at Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary; Nauradehi is now the third site.
  
• Objectives include grassland restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and eco-development for local communities.
  
• Challenges remain in prey density, disease management, and long-term monitoring—lessons already emerging from the Kuno experience.
  

Significance of Nauradehi’s Selection

• Provides a larger and less disturbed landscape, crucial for cheetah survival and dispersal.
  
• Helps establish a meta-population across central India, reducing extinction risk through population connectivity.
  
• Revives focus on India’s grassland ecosystems, which are vital but often overlooked in forest-centric conservation models.
  
• Acts as a flagship initiative under India’s Wildlife Conservation Strategy and aligns with global commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 15).
  

Key Terms and Definitions

• Reintroduction: Release of a species into areas where it once existed, aiming to create a self-sustaining wild population.
  
• Meta-population: A network of spatially separated populations of the same species that interact through dispersal, ensuring genetic flow.
  
• Prey-base: The available population of prey species (like deer or antelope) that predators depend upon for survival.
  
• Flagship Species: A charismatic species used to raise public awareness and support for conservation of entire ecosystems.
  
• Habitat Augmentation: Steps taken to improve habitat quality, including prey restoration, removal of human pressures, and vegetation recovery.
  

One-line wrap:
The Nauradehi Sanctuary’s inclusion in India’s cheetah project signals a bold stride toward reviving lost species, restoring grassland ecosystems, and redefining conservation through science and community partnership.

UPSC Prelims Question:
Which of the following statements are correct regarding India’s Cheetah Reintroduction Programme?

1. India is reintroducing the African cheetah subspecies as the Asiatic cheetah is locally extinct.
   
2. The Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India was launched in 2022 under NTCA.
   

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary has been approved as the third site for cheetah reintroduction.
Select the correct answer:
A) 1 and 2 only B) 1 and 3 only 

C) 2 and 3 only D) 1, 2 and 3