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Cheetahs at Kuno: Prey Shortage and Leopard Competition

3 March 20251 min read
ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGYCheetahs at Kuno:Prey Shortage andLeopardCompetition3 March 2025safalsetu.com

Why in the news

Under two years after reintroduction, a thin prey base and leopard rivalry worry those monitoring the cheetahs.

Prey density at Kuno

ZoneAreaDeer per sq km
Core sanctuary350 sq km17.5
Surrounding area400 sq km1.5

Concerns

  • The Cheetah Project Steering Committee (CPSC) repeatedly flagged inadequate prey, including at its 10th meeting on 23 August 2024.
  • At its first meeting (30 May 2023) it had called prey augmentation an ongoing task.
  • Around 26 leopards per 100 sq km add competition and lower the odds of survival.

Steps taken

CPSC Chairman Rajesh Gopal cited:

  • Translocating more prey animals.
  • In situ breeding of deer in protected enclosures.
  • Tracking hunting behaviour; natural kills indicate some improvement.

Exam angle

  • Location: Kuno National Park; source countries Namibia and South Africa.
  • Monitoring body: CPSC.

Test yourself

1. In which national park were cheetahs reintroduced in India under Project Cheetah?

Cheetahs were translocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

2. From which country did the first batch of eight cheetahs arrive in Kuno on 17 September 2022?

Eight cheetahs came from Namibia; the later batch of twelve came from South Africa.

3. According to the Cheetah Project Steering Committee, what is the prey density in Kuno's 350 sq km core area?

The core area has 17.5 deer per sq km, against 1.5 in the surrounding 400 sq km.

This topic is part of Daily Current Affairs 2 & 3 March 2025 (16 topics).

All topics of the dayDay quizMarch 2025

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