Muhammad Bham | mbham@radioislam.co.za
15 February 2023| 11:30 AM CAT
3 min read

Photo Credit: BBC News

Cheetahs were deemed extinct in India in 1952. Now finally finding an opportunity to re-establish the wild population that once again can fulfil its ecological role in India; this is made possible by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the South African Government and India to re-introduce cheetahs from South Africa.

Veterinary Wild Specialists were planning to take the cheetahs to India for their re-introduction, and they could have done it without a memorandum of understanding between the governments, but by looking at the project as a more long-term goal, they wanted to make sure that they had to buy in mainly of the South African side to ensure that they would be assisted regarding the application of permits, and to facilitate the whole process, they then undertook to get the MOU signed.

The MOU contains some agreements concerning the possible use of South African-owned cheetahs (Government Owned cheetahs – SanParks-owned cheetahs). The second part of the MOU is the exchange of knowledge and expertise, as there are very different systems in India compared to South Africa regarding wildlife management.

South Africa has a more fortress approach with many fenced reserves, whereas, in India, it’s an open system. The exchange of different types of expertise through students, courses and different experiences is what is sought with these memorandums.

The cheetahs will be brought from various wildlife reserves, mostly privately owned, across South Africa from the Kalahari to Northern KwaZulu Natal. The animals have already been placed in quarantine and are ready to travel. On Friday, the animals will be mobilised, and a last health check will be done on them; they will be sedated during the actual transportation period and placed in crates.

The cheetahs are headed from South Africa to Kuno National Park. The environment at Kuno National Park is quite varied, with some open areas, but it is mostly savannah (Open Mixed Woodland Areas).

Eight Namibian Cheetahs have already been taken to India, and twelve will be transported on Friday. Nine are currently in quarantine just North of Pretoria, and the other three will be arriving from Punda Private Game Reserve in Northern KwaZulu Natal.

Although there are complaints regarding this project, a Veterinary Wild Specialist at the University of Pretoria, Professor Adriaan, said that people should see the bigger picture as this project can benefit other wildlife species.

According to Adriaan, when you protect cheetahs in a game reserve, you have to ensure they have something to eat, they have antelope to catch, and those antelope have to have grass to eat and so you have to protect the entire ecosystem, that will be a definite benefit to other species in India that we can see.

He also said that people are very critical when it comes to money spent on animals and don’t consider the enormous amounts spent on military or other ventures, which are often unnecessary and destructive in the world.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with host Mufti Yusuf Moosagie.