Why in news
The Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) raises concerns about the ethical, ecological, and scientific aspects of translocating African cheetahs to India.
Earlier 20 African cheetahs were relocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh (8 from Namibia in 2022, 12 from South Africa in 2023).
Concerns
Translocation has resulted in significant challenges, with a mortality rate of 40%-50% in the first phase of the project, far below the expected survival rate of 85%.
Cheetahs experienced high stress, with over 90 chemical immobilizations and frequent veterinary care, raising health concerns.
The study argues that relying on continuous imports of cheetahs from Southern Africa is unsustainable and unethical, especially with declining cheetah numbers.
The project’s reliance on a vulnerable cheetah population and its long-term effects on both the species and the environment are questioned.
Justice-Informed Approach: Advocate for conservation decisions that include local input, consider diverse values, and focus on sustainable human-wildlife coexistence.
The study emphasizes the need for conservation efforts that create balanced, shared spaces between humans and wildlife without causing division.
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