Source: Indian Express

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Context

• Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is being developed as the second habitat for cheetahs in India, emphasizing the need for a suitable environment and sufficient prey base.
• The project faces challenges such as ensuring adequate prey and managing conflicts with existing predators, like leopards, to facilitate the successful rehabilitation of cheetahs.

Details

Key Points

What makes Gandhi Sagar an ideal habitat for cheetahs?:

• Flat rocky plateau with open grasslands, resembling the Maasai Mara:
  • The sanctuary's flat, rocky plateau with open grasslands provides a landscape similar to Africa's Maasai Mara, ideal for cheetahs.
• Shallow topsoil and exposed sheetrock support a savanna ecosystem:
  • The shallow topsoil and exposed sheetrock create a savanna ecosystem, perfect for cheetahs' hunting and survival needs.
• Riverine valleys provide evergreen vegetation enhancing habitat diversity:
  • The evergreen vegetation in riverine valleys adds diversity to the habitat, supporting various wildlife and ecological balance.
• Comparable to other successful cheetah habitats in Africa:
  • Gandhi Sagar's environment is similar to successful African cheetah habitats, indicating high potential for their reintroduction and survival.
• Officials deem it the best habitat for cheetahs in India after Kuno:
  • Wildlife experts consider Gandhi Sagar the top choice for cheetahs in India, second only to Kuno National Park.

What is the biggest challenge to making Gandhi Sagar a viable cheetah habitat?:

• Ensuring a sufficient prey base is the primary challenge:
  • The main challenge is ensuring an adequate prey base to sustain the cheetah population in the sanctuary.
• Requires translocation of ungulates like chital, blackbuck, and chinkara:
  • Translocating sufficient numbers of ungulates such as chital, blackbuck, and chinkara is crucial for the cheetahs' food supply.
• Competing predators, such as leopards, pose a threat to cheetahs:
  • Leopards and other predators compete with cheetahs for prey, potentially leading to conflicts and survival challenges.
• Stress-related mortalities during prey translocation:
  • Prey translocation efforts can result in stress-related mortalities, complicating the establishment of a stable prey base.
• Human activities near the sanctuary boundary may impact wildlife:
  • Human activities, including agriculture and habitation near the sanctuary boundaries, pose risks to the cheetah habitat and conservation

Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary:

Location:

• Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Madhya Pradesh, encompassing parts of the Mandsaur and Neemuch districts.

Area and Ecosystem:

• The sanctuary spans 368.62 sq km and boasts a diverse savanna ecosystem, crucial for cheetah habitat.

Unique Ecological Features:

• Rocky terrain and the Chambal river bisecting the sanctuary contribute to its distinct ecological features and biodiversity.

Expansion Plans:

• Authorities aim to expand the sanctuary to approximately 2,000 sq km, enhancing habitat for wildlife, including cheetahs.

Infrastructure and Assessments:

• Infrastructure development and ecological assessments by wildlife officials are ongoing to prepare the sanctuary for cheetah reintroduction.

About Cheetah Rehabilitation Project

Reintroduction Goals:

• The project aims to reintroduce cheetahs in India, initially at Kuno National Park, now extending to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Suitability of Gandhi Sagar:

• Gandhi Sagar is considered ideal due to its savanna-like habitat and minimal human interference, favorable for cheetah habitation.

Developed Infrastructure:

• Infrastructure includes a soft release enclosure and a dedicated hospital to ensure a secure and healthy environment for cheetahs.

Prey Base Augmentation:

• A primary challenge is increasing the prey base to sustain cheetah populations, requiring translocation of suitable prey species.

Inter-state Coordination:

• Successful habitat expansion depends on effective coordination between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for unified management plans and resource sharing.

Sources:

Indian Express

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Discuss the ecological and logistical challenges faced in the rehabilitation of cheetahs in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. How can these challenges be mitigated?