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Cheetahs from South Africa to Mysuru zoo
Why is it in News?
- A male and two females cheetah from a cheetah conservation centre in South Africa arrived at Mysore zoo under an animal exchange programme.
Details:
- Asiatic Cheetah:
(1) It was declared extinct from India in 1952
(2) It is considered the only large mammal that has gone extinct since the country’s independence.
- African cheetah:
(1) It is the fastest land animal.
(2) It is categorized as ‘vulnerable’ in IUCN red list.
(3) It is medium sized cat and bigger than Asiatic Cheetah.
(4) Males are slightly taller than females.
(5) The Southeast African cheetah usually lives on grasslands, savannahs, scrub forests, and arid environments such as deserts and semidesert steppes.
- Supreme Court on Cheetah Re-introduction Plan:
(1) May, 2012 Order:
(a) The apex court had stalled the plan to initiate the foreign cheetahs into the Palpur Kino sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
(b) SC cited fears that they may come into conflict with a project to reintroduce lions into the same sanctuary.
(c) SC was unhappy with the choice of the Kuno sanctuary as it is not a natural habitat for African cheetah.
(2) January, 2020 Order:
(a) The Supreme Court in January 2020 lifted its seven-year stay on a proposal to introduce African cheetahs from Namibia into the Indian habitat on an experimental basis.
(b) It set up a three-member committee to file a progress report about right precautions being taken every four months.
(c) The committee would help, advice and monitor the National Tiger Conservation Authority for survey and efforts for reintroduction.