Lok Sabha Question No. 672 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Relocation of Cheetah
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Suresh Kumar Kashyap, Su Thirunavukkarasar, Mala Roy, Ramapati Ram Tripathi, Manickam Tagore B, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Sougata Ray, P.P. Chaudhary, Ravneet Singh, Anurag Sharma, Pratap Chandra Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 672

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## Relocation of Cheetah

## 672. SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:

SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:

SHRIMATI MALA ROY:

DR. RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI:

SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.:

SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

Will the MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that among the cheetahs that were translocated from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park (KNP) of Madhya Pradesh, some of them have died and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the total cost of import of 70 Cheetahs;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to relocate them to some other places in the country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has consulted of any wild life expert to free them at Kuno forest and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the  method  for  keeping  track  of  the  health  and  physical  condition  of  the  translocated cheetahs;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  formed  a  new  committee  to  keep  watch  on  the  Cheetah project having International and national experts in it;
- (g) the measures taken to ensure their safety and prevent any further cheetah deaths in this regard; and
- (h) whether the Government proposes to translocate more cheetahs and other similar animals to the country in the near future and if so, the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) As reported by the State, the details of Cheetah deaths are given below:

|   Sl. No. | Name of Cheetah   | Date of death   | Reason for death        |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------------|-------------------------|
|         1 | Sasha             | 27.03.2023      | Chronic renal failure   |
|         2 | Uday              | 23.04.2023      | Cardiopulmonary failure |

|   3. | Daksha   | 09.05.2023   | Traumatic Shock                                                                 |
|------|----------|--------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    4 | Tejas    | 11.07.2023   | As per the Preliminary Necropsy Report, the reasons of death is Traumatic Shock |
|    5 | Suraj    | 14.07.2023   | As per the Preliminary Necropsy Report, the reasons of death is Traumatic Shock |

3 Indian born cubs of nearly 2 months of age died on 23.05.2023 due to heat stroke.

- (b) As  per  the  Action  Plan  for  Introduction  of  cheetah  in  India,  for  the  first  phase  (5 years), the estimated cost of the project is Rs. 91.65 crore.
- (c) A  detailed  scientific  action  plan  has  been  prepared  as  per  IUCN  Guidelines  for introduction  of  Cheetah  in  India.    As  per  the  Action  Plan,  Kuno  National  Park, Nauradehi wildlife sanctuary and Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Shahgarh Bulge, Bhainsrorgarh wildlife sanctuary and enclosure in Mukundara Hills  Tiger  Reserve  in  Rajasthan  are  the  potential  sites  identified  for  cheetah introduction.    Cheetah  introduction  in  these  sites  depends  upon  the  continued availability of cheetahs from African countries for sourcing as well as the status of habitat, prey base and protection mechanism on the ground.
- (d) Yes  Sir.    The  introduction  of  cheetahs  in  India  is  based  on  the  best  available conservation  science  and  a  detailed  scientific  action  plan  prepared  following  the expertise of leading Cheetah experts including biologists, ecologists, conservationists and managers.
- (e) A  dedicated  team  of  forest  officials,  cheetah  experts  and  veterinarians  has  been undertaking protection  as  well  as  monitoring  and  well-being  of  cheetahs  on  24x7 basis.
- (f) Yes Sir.  A Cheetah Project Steering Committee has been constituted on 25 th May, 2023  and  the  terms  of  reference  of  the  Steering  Committee  is  to  review  progress, monitor  and  advice  on  the  Cheetah  introduction  in  consultation  with  international cheetah experts as and when required.
- (g) To ensure conservation and protection of Cheetahs in India, actions are taken as per scientific  action  plan  which  has  been  prepared  following  the  expertise  of  leading Cheetah experts including biologists, ecologists, conservationists and managers.
- (h) As per the Action Plan for introduction of Cheetah, every year depending upon the availability  of  animals  and  status  of  introduced  Cheetahs,  12-14  individuals  are proposed  to  be  brought  from  South  Africa  and  Namibia  or  other  African  countries during the next five years.

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