Madhya Pradesh (MP) government has announced that it has completed the preparation for the Cheetah’s translocation to GSWS.
- Translocation is under the Project Cheetah through which the first slots of 20 Cheetah’s were introduced in Kuno National Park (KNP) from Namibia and South Africa.
About GSWS
- Located along the border between MP and Rajasthan, spanning over 368.62 sq. km.
- River Chambal flows through the sanctuary and Gandhisagar dam lies within the sanctuary.
- Flora and Fauna: Arjauna and Jal jamun trees along with Panther, Nilgai, Chinkara, wolf etc.
Factors behind selecting GSWS as Cheetahs Home
- Topography: Due to the rocky terrain and exposed sheetrock, the topsoil is shallow.
- Topography also includes hills, plateaus, and river catchment areas.
- Ecosystem: GSWS has savanna ecosystem comprising open grasslands interspersed with dry deciduous trees and shrubs. However, Chambal valley is evergreen.
Challenges
- An insufficient prey base is still an issue in GSWS, much like it has been in (KNP).
- Leopard population in GSWS will pose a threat to cheetahs, they will compete for the same prey, and possibly even clashing with each other in wild encounters.
Project Cheetah
About Cheetah
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