Knowledge Nugget | Cheetah Translocation: Essential Information for the UPSC Exam

Five African cheetahs are scheduled to arrive in India from Botswana early next year as part of Project Cheetah, and Indian authorities are trying to finalize licenses for their relocation. Let's take a closer look at the Cheetah and Project Cheetah in this perspective. Important Takeaways:

1. During President Droupadi Murmu's state visit in November, Botswana formally announced the relocation of eight cheetahs to India. Eight large cats were symbolically sent by Botswana to India as part of Project Cheetah.

2. With an estimated 1,700–2,000 big cats, Botswana is home to one of the biggest wild cheetah populations. Cheetahs 1. The tawny coats of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are famous for their black dots, which are arranged in a unique pattern to help identify the animal. 2. Asiatic cheetahs lived in India.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority states that the cheetah left India in 1952 after facing numerous challenges. It is now thought that the Asiatic cheetah alone exists in Iran.

3. Cheetah Conservation Status: Asiatic cheetahs are classified as "critically endangered" on the IUCN Red List, while African cheetahs are classified as vulnerable (VU). Schedule 1 for Asiatic and African cheetahs under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.