Concerns raised about management of cheetah project in Kuno National Park

Madhya Pradesh: A report by the AG has raised concerns about the management of the cheetah project in Kono National Park, pointing to a “lack of coordination” between central and state government departments. The report also found that the park’s 2020-2030 management plan made no mention of reintroducing cheetahs despite their origin from Africa. When asked about the concerns, Chief Conservator of Forests and Lion Project Director Uttam Sharma said he has responded to the auditors but did not give specific details.

He said: This is a routine exercise conducted in phases and action will be taken if required after all phases are completed. The audit, covering the period from August 2019 to November 2023, found that Kuno ground and wildlife staff were not involved in “site selection” or “cheetah reintroduction studies”. According to a report prepared under the Freedom of Information Act, the Kono reserve was originally identified as a secondary habitat for Asiatic lions. However, according to the report, no effort has been made to reintroduce the Asiatic lion till November 2023.

S.P. Yadav, general secretary of the International Big Cat Alliance, told PTI last week that the Asiatic lion population in Gujarat is naturally isolated and there is no need to relocate them at the moment, he said. The audit said cheetahs were not mentioned in the management plan… Hence, the expenditure of Rs 4,414 crore on the cheetah project from 2021 to 2023-24 (till January 2024) was not included in the approved management plan. He said the report is contradictory. The report said the auditors did not find any record that shows “under whose leadership the cheetah recovery work was initiated.”