Extinction of Cheetah in India

Cheetah! The name brings back flashes of memories of the fastest-running animal through the dense forests of Africa on National Geographic or Discovery. Or is it the reality shows where participants perform stunts with this spotted feline member? Well, known for their speed and grace, cheetahs once formed a hunting ally for the Mughals and were tagged as ‘vermin’ in the British era.

Cheetah. Image Credits: Mint

The word Cheeta has been derived from the Sanskrit term ‘Chitraka’ or the Hindi word ‘Chita’ which means spotted ones. Alternatively, its genus name, Acinonyx refers to its non-retractile claws. These large carnivores once roamed widely throughout India but today it is considered extinct in the country. Some of the chief reasons that contribute to its extinction include overhunting, coursing, and habitat loss. With the last three members being killed in 1947, Cheetahs were finally declared extinct in the year 1952.

Tracing its historical saga, instances of Neolithic cave paintings of Bhopal and Gandhinagar come into view. Similarly, stories of the Mughal emperor, Akbar having approximately 10,000 cheetahs, gifting a stone-studded collar for its extraordinary performance, and his son, Jahangir taming and using cheetah coursing to catch 400 antelopes do strike an astonishing note. Now, by the time the Britishers set foot in India, the cheetah population was already declining. These smallest of the big cats caused lesser harm to humans and were difficult to tame so, the foreign blood paid less heed to their presence at large. Further, as the tale unfolds, the cheetah population had gone down by a few hundred by the end of the 20th century. Back then they were imported from Africa between 1918 to 1945.

Historically, cheetahs were found in various parts of India, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the Deccan Plateau. However, as human populations grew and agriculture expanded, the cheetahs' natural habitats were destroyed and hunting pressure increased. Despite repeated efforts by conservationists to reintroduce the species, none have been successful, and the cheetah is now considered extinct in the country.

The loss of the cheetah has not only led to the loss of a unique and iconic species, but it also has ecological consequences. As a top predator, the cheetah played an important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Without it, the populations of its prey may increase, leading to overgrazing and other ecological imbalances.

Constant efforts are now being made to conserve the cheetahs remaining in other parts of the world, such as Africa and Iran. These efforts include habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and breeding programs. However, the extinction of the cheetah in India serves as a reminder of the devastating impact that human activities can have on wildlife and the importance of conservation efforts. Now, it's important to note that the African cheetah is not the same subspecies as the Indian cheetah, that is the Asiatic cheetah, which is found in Iran and Central Asia, which is critically endangered and only around 50 individuals are remaining.

Recently, after many repeated attempts to reintroduce cheetahs to the Indian subcontinent on an experimental basis, they have been successfully imported from Namibia and South Africa. The group consists of three male, and five female cheetahs and is believed to have traveled over 8,000 km. Formerly, in 1970, talks were on to trade Asiatic lions with cheetahs from Iran. Likewise, attempts were made again in 2009, 2010, and 2012 respectively. Finally, Kuno National Park was selected as the probable home for the newly introduced cheetah population, and the necessary steps were taken accordingly.

Therefore, the extinction of the cheetah in India is a tragic loss for both the species and the ecosystem. It serves as a reminder of the impact that human activities can have on wildlife and the importance of conservation efforts to protect the remaining populations of this and other endangered species.