Project Cheetah is set to embark on its next chapter as a second batch of cheetahs from South Africa is expected to arrive in a few months, according to a report by the Times of India. These magnificent creatures will find their new abode in the Gandhisagar Sanctuary, located in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh.
A delegation, led by Chandra Prakash Goyal, the Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, and Dr. SP Yadav, the Member Secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the head of Project Cheetah, recently concluded a fruitful 10-day mission to South Africa. The purpose of the visit was to advance the project's agenda and exchange vital insights into the management of wild cheetahs.
During their visit, the delegation had the privilege of engaging in field exercises at the Mountain Zebra National Park, where they participated in cheetah tracking and conducted inspections of fencing and bomas alongside South African National Parks (SANParks) rangers. At the Kuzuko Lodge, the Indian officials gained invaluable knowledge about the South African metapopulation of cheetahs, which could potentially contribute to the expansion efforts of Project Cheetah in southern Africa.
According to the Times of India, the delegation also actively participated in cheetah darting, collaring, and tracking exercises at the Mabula Private Game Reserve. They observed the darting and collaring procedures performed by South African veterinarians during the twilight hours at the Dinokeng Private Game Reserve, which shed light on the challenges and intricacies associated with managing the South African cheetah population.
At the Hopewell Private Game Reserve, the Indian delegates witnessed various methodologies employed for the management of wild cheetahs, including the use of helicopters for assistance. Additionally, they held a crucial meeting with senior officials from the South African Department of Environment, Fisheries, and Forestry to discuss the progress of Project Cheetah and outline the next steps for the initiative.
The visit concluded with the Indian officials having the opportunity to observe wild cheetahs in four distinct South African biomes - the Semi-desert Karoo, open grasslands at Tiger Canyons, dense thicket vegetation at Hopewell, and woodland savanna at Dinokeng and Mabula. Furthermore, they visited the renowned Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre – DeWildt, Africa's oldest and most enduring conservation program for cheetahs, providing valuable insights into best practices for cheetah husbandry in captive conditions.
On September 17 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight cheetahs from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno National Park, as part of an effort to revive the species’ population in India.