The Banni Grasslands in Gujarat, one of the 10 sites selected under Project Cheetah for reintroducing cheetahs in India, is now fully prepared to host the big cats.

• The herbivore (prey) population, especially chital and sambar, has increased.
• The Forest Department has set up a fenced enclosure to keep large carnivores out, aiming to improve habitat management.
• Vantara, a Jamnagar-based rescue and conservation centre, has played a key role by reintroducing spotted deer into the Banni Grasslands.

About Banni Grassland

• Location: Along the northern border of Gujarat’s Kachchh district, It is considered to be the largest contiguous grassland in India.
• Area: Spans approximately 2,618 sq km, accounting for about 45% of Gujarat’s total pastureland.
• Formation: The grassland was formed over thousands of years through the deposition of sediments by the Indus and other rivers.
• Eco System: Features a unique combination of wetlands and grasslands.
• Tribal Inhabitants: Home to around 40 Sindhi-speaking Maldhari hamlets, including tribes such as the Halaypotra, Hingora, Hingorja, Jat, and Mutwa.
• Flora: Common plant species include Cressa cretica, various Cyperus species, and grasses like Sporobolus, Dichanthium, and Aristida.
• Fauna: Nilgai, chinkara, blackbuck, wild boar, golden jackal, Indian hare, Indian wolf, caracal, Asiatic wildcat, desert fox, and the last remaining population of the Indian wild ass.
• Potential Cheetah Habitat: The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified Banni Grassland as one of the last remaining habitats of the cheetah in India.
  • The landscape closely resembles the natural habitat of African cheetahs, including grasslands, savannahs, and scrublands.

Project Cheetah

• Launched by the Government of India, Project Cheetah aims to reintroduce cheetahs, declared extinct in India in 1952.

• Nodal Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), under the Ministry of Environment.
• Goal: Bring 50 cheetahs from African countries to Indian national parks over five years.
• IUCN Status: Asiatic Cheetah – Critically Endangered; African Cheetah -Vulnerable

About Cheetah

• Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals, capable of reaching speeds of 60–70 miles per hour.
• They have narrow shoulder blades, long limbs, a long tail, and semi-retractable claws that aid in speed, balance, and traction.
• Unlike other big cats, cheetahs cannot roar; they communicate through chirps, purrs, and other sounds.
• The cheetah’s life cycle has three stages: cub (birth to 18 months), adolescence (18 to 24 months), and adulthood (24 months onward).
• The gestation period is 93 days, with litters typically ranging from one to six cubs; litters of eight are rare.
• Cub mortality can reach up to 90% in protected areas due to the presence of large predators.
• Adult cheetahs in the wild live an average of 10–12 years.
• Adult males have a shorter average lifespan of about 8 years due to territorial conflicts.

Other Potential Sites Identified for Cheetah Introduction (as per the Action Plan)

• Chhattisgarh: Guru Ghasidas National Park
• Madhya Pradesh: Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary, Sanjay National Park, Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary, Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve
• Rajasthan: Desert National Park, Shahgarh Grasslands
• Uttar Pradesh: Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary

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