After a gap of 70 years, the Asiatic Cheetahs have made a remarkable comeback to India. Thanks to the efforts of former IAS officer Dr. M K Ranjitsinh, the cheetahs were successfully relocated from Namibia to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This historic achievement marks a significant milestone in wildlife conservation and brings hope for the revival of the cheetah population in India.

The Visionary Behind the Project

Dr. M K Ranjitsinh, an ex-IAS officer and a member of the royal family of Wankaner, Gujarat, has been instrumental in making the dream of reintroducing cheetahs to India a reality. As a young boy and an avid reader of wildlife literature, he was deeply moved by the extinction of cheetahs in India. Driven by his passion for wildlife conservation, he incorporated the cheetah as a protected species in the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, even when it was already declared extinct.

The History of the Cheetah in India

Once, cheetahs roamed freely across various regions of India. However, due to over-hunting, loss of prey, and habitat destruction, their population declined rapidly. The last three surviving cheetahs were shot by Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Koriya in 1947. The Indian government officially declared the cheetah extinct in 1952.

The Journey to Bring Back the Cheetahs

In the early 1970s, Dr. M K Ranjitsinh initiated efforts to reintroduce cheetahs to India. He established communication with Iran, where a substantial population of Asiatic cheetahs still existed. However, the negotiations were disrupted by the declaration of Emergency in 1975 and the deposition of the Shah of Iran in 1979.

Undeterred by these setbacks, Dr. Ranjitsinh persevered in his mission. Alongside wildlife conservationist Divyabhanusinh Chavda, he worked on developing guidelines and policies for the reintroduction of cheetahs. The "African Cheetah Introduction Project in India" was conceived in 2009, and after a long wait, it received final approval from the Supreme Court in 2020.

Kuno National Park: The Chosen Habitat

The selection of Kuno National Park as the habitat for the reintroduced cheetahs was carefully considered. In 1981, Dr. Ranjitsinh visited Kuno and recognized its suitability as an ideal area for lions and cheetahs. He declared Kuno as a sanctuary in the same year. Despite earlier attempts to reintroduce cheetahs in the 1980s, the project faced challenges due to the declining cheetah population in Iran.

Dr. Ranjitsinh emphasized that the reintroduction of apex predators like cheetahs has a positive cascading effect on the ecosystem. The presence of cheetahs leads to better protection of their habitat, benefiting not only the cheetahs but also the prey species. The reintroduction of cheetahs has already shown promising results in the recovery of the Kuno National Park's ecosystem.

The Challenges and Controversies

While the reintroduction of cheetahs to India has been met with enthusiasm and hope, there are concerns and controversies surrounding the project. Some experts and wildlife groups argue that it may be premature and risky, dubbing it a "vanity project." There are fears that the existing leopard population in Kuno National Park may pose a threat to the cheetahs. Additionally, the high population density in India raises questions about the feasibility of a free-ranging cheetah population.

The Future of Cheetah Conservation in India

Despite the challenges, Dr. M K Ranjitsinh remains optimistic about the future of cheetah conservation in India. He sees the reintroduction of cheetahs as a testament to the Indian people and government's commitment to preventing the extinction of wildlife species. Dr. Ranjitsinh believes that no effort will be spared to restore any wildlife species that may face extinction in the future.