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Cheetah Translocation to India: Study Flags High Mortality

20 February 20251 min read
ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGYCheetahTranslocation toIndia: Study FlagsHigh Mortality20 February 2025safalsetu.com

Why in the news

A CWS study questioned Project Cheetah after heavy early losses among the African cheetahs brought to India.

Key facts

  • Mortality: 40-50% in phase one, against a survival benchmark of 85%.
  • Stress: more than 90 chemical immobilisations and repeated veterinary handling.
  • Captivity: because of deaths, all introduced cheetahs are now kept in enclosures.
  • Source pool: only about 6,500 mature cheetahs survive in the wild in Africa.
  • Cost: a plan to bring 12 animals yearly to build a robust population is not financially sustainable.

Recommendations

  • Make conservation decisions participatory, respecting varied knowledge systems and local voices.
  • Favour shared space for people and wildlife over further translocation.

Exam angle

  • Study body: Centre for Wildlife Studies; scheme questioned: Project Cheetah.

Test yourself

1. Which organisation's analysis reported 40-50% mortality in the first phase of cheetah translocation to India?

The Centre for Wildlife Studies analysis reported this mortality rate.

2. What survival rate had been expected for the introduced cheetahs in India?

The expected survival rate was 85%.

3. How many cheetahs a year would need to be imported to build a robust population, as projected in the study?

The projection was annual importation of 12 individuals.

This topic is part of Daily Current Affairs 20 February 2025 (11 topics).

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