Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, September 17
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today released wild Cheetahs – which had become extinct from India – in Kuno National Park.
Cheetahs – brought from Namibia – are being introduced in India under Project Cheetah, which is world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project. Out of the eight Cheetahs there are five female and three male Cheetahs.
The Prime Minister released Cheetahs at two release points in Kuno National Park. The Prime Minister also interacted with Cheetah Mitras, Cheetah Rehabilitation Management Group and students at the venue. The Prime Minister addressed the Nation on this historic occasion.
Earlier, eight Cheetahs from Namibia landed in Palpur Kuno national park (Sheopur district) in Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh. Initially, planned to be second Home for Asiatic Lions, Palpur now becomes the abode of Asiatic Cheetahs declared extinct in 1952. Koriya district in Chhattisgarh saw the last of three cheetahs in 1952.
The author was witness to the planning and development of Palpur-Kuno as sanctuary for migrated (now aborted) Asiatic Lions from Sasan Gir in Gujarat, 25 years ago. D P Singh, then PCCF and two then young officers of Madhya Pradesh forests department, L K Chaudhury and B K Dhar provided assistance, guidance during his visit in the jungles, villages under the proposed then lions sanctuary, meeting with villagers, then reluctant to shift.
Had meeting with the dacoits of Chambal who had surrendered, settled in a rehabilitation colony, getting invitation to join the Baarat of son of one of the once dreaded bandits (some of them now Cheetah Mitras) to Mainpuri.
Driving skill of Chahudhary made them cross the swollen Kuno river, a tributary of Chambal, reached the abandoned Palpur fort, heard stories of kidnapping of Meena Kumari. Both Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat governments had agreed to make Palpur, second home for lions as Gir forests had become overcrowded with rising population of Lions, Sasan becoming congested to accommodate them, apprehension of territorial clashes between the herds. Environment, flora and fauna in Gir and Palpur were common.
But subsequent political environment wasn’t common. Issue reached Supreme Court. Villagers who have lately agreed to accept the government offers of compensation, shift elsewhere to facilitate their traditional family land and home for Asiatic Lions are now welcoming Asiatic Cheetahs.
Translocation of Lions from Gujarat could not take place, but Cheetahs translocation from distant Namibia has been done, Asiatic Lions are pride of Gujarat, For Madhya Pradesh, reintroduction of mammal wildlife Cheetah, a great event.
