India should go for younger cheetahs habituated to human presence: experts

Experts recommend younger cheetahs for relocation to India, citing higher survival rates & adaptability. Six of 20 cheetahs relocated to Kuno have died, but mortality is within normal parameters. To ensure success, 50 more founder cheetahs from South Africa must be relocated & two additional reintroduction sites identified. Supermoms & continuous swaps between metapopulations are key for long-term viability. Mukundra Tiger Reserve unsuitable due to low prey density & feral cattle.

Younger cheetahs that are habituated to management vehicles and human presence are preferred candidates for relocation to India, international experts involved in Project Cheetah have told the government based on the lessons learnt from the initial experience in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park.

In a status report submitted to the government recently, the experts said these attributes enable easier monitoring of health-related issues, simplify stress-free veterinary and management intervention, and enhance tourism value.

Kuno, where two batches of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa have been introduced, is set to open for tourism and these qualities in cheetahs can enhance the park's appeal to visitors, they said.

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They emphasised that young adult cheetahs are more adaptable to their new environments and have higher survival rates compared to older cheetahs. Younger males display "lower aggression" towards other cheetahs, reducing the risk of intraspecific competition mortality, commonly known as cheetah infighting.

Considering the costs associated with relocating cheetahs to India, the experts highlighted that younger cheetahs have a longer life expectancy post-release, offering higher conservation value and breeding potential.

They emphasised that although the cheetah mortalities recorded at the Kuno National Park are unfortunate and have attracted negative media attention, they are within the normal parameters for wild cheetah reintroduction.