Cheetah, extinct from India in 1952, to return in nation

New Delhi : Cheetah had gone extinct from India in 1952, but it is now likely to return to the nation as the Centre on Wednesday launched an action plan under which 50 of these big cats will be introduced in the next five years. 

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the action plan at the 19th meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) saying, "The cheetah that became extinct in independent India, is all set to return."

According to the plan, 10-12 young Cheetah will be reintroduced from Namibia or South Africa as a founder stock during the first year.

"An existing coalition of wild males shall be selected while the selected females shall also be known to each other as far as possible. The animals' lineage and condition shall be checked in the host country to ensure that they are not from an excessively inbred stock and are in the ideal age group, so as to conform to the needs of a founding population," said the over 300-page action plan.

After surveying several sites, Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh was rated high on priority and was found suitable for its habitat.

As per the plan, the Centre, along with ministry of environment and the Cheetah Task Force, will create a formal framework to collaborate with governments of Namibia and/or South Africa, through the Ministry of External Affairs.