Study raises significant concerns regarding Project Cheetah's scientific, ecological, ethical foundations

By A Representative

In a bold conservation move, India’s Project Cheetah sought to reintroduce African cheetahs into Kuno National Park (KNP) after the extinction of the native Asiatic cheetah in the 1950s. However, a recent study* published in Frontiers in Conservation Science raises significant concerns regarding the project's scientific, ecological, and ethical foundations.

Since the project’s launch, 20 African cheetahs—eight from Namibia and 12 from South Africa—were introduced to KNP. Despite initial optimism, reports indicate alarming mortality rates: 40% of adult cheetahs and nearly 30% of cubs have died. Health complications, including extreme heat stress, kidney failure, and infections, have raised questions about whether KNP provides a suitable habitat for these big cats.

Moreover, many cheetahs have been returned to enclosures due to health concerns, and no cheetahs currently roam freely in KNP. Critics argue that the initiative has prioritized political and symbolic goals over animal welfare and scientific rigor.

The study highlights social injustices faced by indigenous communities living near KNP. Historically, over 5,000 people were displaced for a proposed Asiatic lion reintroduction that never materialized. Now, with the cheetah project, local voices remain excluded from decision-making. Researchers criticize authorities for using economic vulnerability as justification for relocating communities, calling the approach exploitative and lacking in fairness.

Conservationists from India and South Africa have expressed skepticism about the project's long-term viability. Some speculate that geopolitical interests may have influenced Namibia’s cheetah donation, with reports suggesting India’s agreement to reconsider its ban on the ivory trade as part of negotiations.

Furthermore, critics argue that reintroducing African cheetahs does little to conserve their populations. Instead, they recommend investing in in-situ conservation efforts within Africa, where the species faces habitat loss and poaching threats.

The study urges policymakers to rethink the project’s approach, emphasizing the need for transparent, evidence-based conservation strategies. Ethical concerns surrounding both the welfare of the cheetahs and the rights of local communities must be addressed to ensure sustainable wildlife management.

As India continues its ambitious conservation efforts, the controversy surrounding Project Cheetah serves as a reminder that successful rewilding initiatives require not just scientific credibility but also social and ecological justice.

---

*Joshi, Y.C., Klarmann, S.E., & de Waal, L.C. (2025). Delineating the Environmental Justice Implications of an Experimental Cheetah Introduction Project in India

Comments

Former civil servants raise alarm over conflict of interest in Supreme Court's forest advisory panel

By A Representative In a strongly worded open letter to the Chief Justice of India, 60 retired senior civil servants from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other central services have raised serious concerns over what they term a “conflict of interest” in the current composition of the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), tasked with advising the Court in forest and environmental matters. The signatories, all part of the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), expressed grave apprehension that the CEC—now comprising entirely of recently retired officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)—may lack impartiality in ongoing litigation, particularly those challenging the Forest Conservation Amendment Act (FCAA), 2023.

Prof. Vidyut Joshi: Gujarat’s knowledge institutions have lost their soul, urgent reorientation needed

By A Representative In a thought-provoking column published in Sandesh , eminent sociologist and former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vidyut Joshi has raised urgent concerns over the erosion of intellectual autonomy and social relevance in Gujarat’s leading research and academic institutions. Building on insights from the recent paper Secret of Creating High Performing Knowledge Institutions by development economist Prof. Tushaar Shah, Joshi paints a stark picture of institutions that have strayed far from their foundational vision.

Remembering Vasant and Rajab: The forgotten martyrs who died to protect India’s soul from communal hatred

By Hidayat Parmar How much do we truly know about the real history of Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s royal city? July 1st marks a date that shines a light on two of its noblest sons—Vasant and Rajab—whose legacy lives on as a powerful reminder of secular unity and fearless sacrifice.

Top civil rights leader announces plan to lead delegation to Pakistan amidst post-war tensions

By A Representative In a significant move, well-known academic and civil rights leader Sandeep Pandey has announced the plan to send a 22-member delegation to Pakistan to engage in dialogue with its government and civil society. The delegation proposed to go to Pakistan under the banner of Socialist Party (India) as a fact-finding mission to help seek solution to continuing tensions between the two countries over the fallout of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Global recognition at UNHRC: A breakthrough for communities discriminated on work and descent

By Amit Kumar, Naveen Gautam* In a historic moment for global human rights, the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council opened with a powerful acknowledgment of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD)—groups affected by caste-like systems of exclusion, marginalization, and inherited inequality. This recognition was delivered by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk during his global human rights update, signaling a major shift in international discourse.

Climate action in rural India can go hand in hand with sustainable livelihoods: NGO shows the way

By Bharat Dogra Mobilizing an adequate response to climate change is often seen as an expensive task and then there is a lot of talk about who’ll bear the burden. However in rural areas both climate mitigation and adaptation can be integrated well with the promotion of sustainable rural livelihoods and in such conditions people become very supportive towards it. In such conditions climate response can progress much more smoothly without becoming burdensome.

J&K's Mallabuchan villagers symbolically cut Off pipeline in protest against ‘water injustice’

By A Representative In a striking act of peaceful protest, residents of Mallabuchan village in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district symbolically disconnected the Ahmadpora-Tangmarg water pipeline on Thursday, denouncing decades of official neglect and violation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) norms.

Organic food stakeholders oppose FSSAI's proposed regulatory changes, warn against undermining small farmers, safe food movement

By A Representative Over 130 signatories representing India’s organic farming community have submitted a strongly worded letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), objecting to key proposals discussed at a hybrid meeting held by the authority on May 7, 2025. The meeting, convened to review the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations 2017, reportedly considered drastic amendments that stakeholders claim will harm small producers and the broader movement for agroecological food systems.

Few Bollywood actors possessed Sanjeev Kumar's subtle detachment and sensitivity

By Harsh Thakor On 9th July, we celebrated the 85th birthday of legendary Hindi film actor, Sanjeev Kumar., known as Haribhai Jariwala. Sanjeev Kumar penetrated zones of versatility or acting craft, almost unparalleled in Hindi cinema. He was one one the very few who touched horizons of true genius, transcending regions in acting virtually unexplored. Rarely did any artist get stuck as thickly into the skin of the character. The diversity of expressions in his moves reminded one of the different water colours of a painting. Sanjeev manifested the ventures of an artist to tap the regions unexplored. He simply defied all conventions of Bollywood, making path breaking experiments. His acting had a subtle degree detachment and sensitivity, which few Bollywood actors ever possessed. He may not have possessed the drop dead looks of a Dev Anand, Dharmendra or Sashi Kapoor or the professionalism or star charisma of an Amitabh Bachan, Rajesh Khanna or Shah Rukh Khan. However in pure acting...

Search This Blog