Sunday, 23 February 2025

Study raises Ethical and Ecological concerns over Project Cheetah

The study titled ‘Delineating the Environmental Justice Implications of an Experimental Cheetah Introduction Project in India’ uses Project Cheetah as a case study to highlight broader concerns relevant to rewilding and restoration initiatives.

Project Cheetah seeks to reintroduce African cheetahs to India, where the Asiatic subspecies had become extinct. Twenty cheetahs were relocated to Kuno National Park (KNP), but the project has faced challenges, including high mortality rates (40% for adults, 29.4% for cubs) and ongoing health concerns.

Key Issues Highlighted with Project Cheetah:

  • Ecological Mismatch: The stark differences in climate, prey, and habitat between India and Africa present challenges to the long-term survival of cheetahs.
  • Stressful Conditions: Frequent chemical immobilizations have caused significant stress to the cheetahs.
  • Captivity Issues: Most of the surviving cheetahs remain in captivity, with no established free-ranging population in KNP.
  • Unsustainable Cheetah Imports: African cheetah populations are already vulnerable, with around 6,500 mature individuals. The annual importation of 12 cheetahs is unsustainable and raises ethical concerns.
  • Social Inequities: There has been minimal involvement of local communities, coupled with past displacements of indigenous people for conservation purposes, leading to unfair social impacts.

Key Recommendations:
The study advocates for a justice-informed approach, encouraging a more participatory and inclusive conservation model.

  • The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework stresses the importance of equity and justice in conservation efforts.
  • Local Knowledge: The study calls for the integration of local knowledge systems to foster sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.

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