New Delhi, A report by the Accountant General of Madhya Pradesh has flagged concerns over the management of the Cheetah Project in Kuno National Park, highlighting a "lack of coordination" between central and state government departments.
The report also revealed that despite the arrival of cheetahs from Africa, the park's management plan for 2020-2030 does not mention the reintroduction of cheetahs.
When asked about these concerns, chief conservator of forests and Project Lion director Uttam Sharma said they had provided answers to the auditors but declined to share specific details. "It is a routine exercise that is carried out in several phases. Any action, if necessary, will be taken once the entire process is completed," he said.
The audit, which covered the period from August 2019 to November 2023, found that ground staff and the Kuno Wildlife Division were not involved in either "site selection" or the "cheetah reintroduction study." ".
The report, obtained under the Right to Information Act, says the Kuno Sanctuary was originally identified as a second habitat for Asiatic lions. "However, no effort has been made for reintroduction of Asiatic lions till November 2023," he said. S P Yadav, director general of the International Big Cat Alliance, said last week that natural geographical isolation is occurring between Asiatic lion populations in Gujarat and that there is currently no need to relocate them.
The audit report said: "There was no mention of cheetahs in this management plan... Therefore, the expenditure of Rs 44.14 crore incurred on the Cheetah Project from 2021-22 to 2023-24 (till January of 2024) was not in accordance with the approved management plan."
According to the report, the auditors could not find any record that clarified "under whose instructions the cheetah reintroduction work began." In accordance with the Supreme Court's instructions on January 28, 2020, a three-member committee was formed. members to select the most suitable place for African cheetahs. This panel was required to submit its report to the high court every four months.
"The Supreme Court had only created the expert committee. It was not clear whether the reintroduction of the cheetah would take place only within the Kuno National Park.
"Therefore, there is no chapter on cheetah reintroduction in the management plan. Work related to cheetah reintroduction is being carried out in accordance with the Cheetah Action Plan 2021, prepared by the central government," the Forest Division told auditors. It added that Kuno was to be developed as an alternative habitat for Asiatic lions, as per the Supreme Court decision of April 15, 2013, and the state government took it up." totally serious."
The audit report said: "It is clear from the statements of the Forest Division that there was a lack of coordination between the departments of the Government of India and the Government of Madhya Pradesh."
"It is also clear that ground staff and the Forest Division were not involved in the site selection or cheetah reintroduction study. The matter has been brought to the attention of the government," he said. The report added that 43 of the 255 sanctioned posts were vacant, "which can have an immediate impact on the protection of forests and wild animals."
The report noted that Prakash Kumar Verma, former Forest Officer of Kuno Wildlife Division, was sent to South Africa and Namibia for training in cheetah management.
However, he was moved to another location just a few days after training, making his "training unusable for cheetah reintroduction and expenditure on him useless." According to the Action Plan for Cheetah Introduction in India , trained staff were not to be removed from cheetah conservation sites for a "minimum period of five years".
Ajay Dubey, a Bhopal-based wildlife activist, said the report raises several important questions, including concerns about "coordination and understanding between central and state government departments", which are crucial for the success of the reintroduction programme. of the cheetah
It is important to note that despite the arrival of African cheetahs to Kuno as part of the first effort of its kind in the world, many key positions remain vacant, directly affecting the management of the animals. As part of the first intercontinental translocation Of big cats, 20 cheetahs have so far been brought to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh: eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023.
Since arriving in India, eight adult cheetahs (three females and five males) have died.
Seventeen cubs have been born in India, of which 12 survived, bringing the total number of cheetahs, including cubs, in Kuno to 24. All are currently in enclosures. The grand initiative will turn two years old on September 17. The 'Action Plan for Cheetah Reintroduction in India' envisages bringing in 12 to 14 cheetahs each year from South Africa, Namibia and other African countries for five years to establish a founding population .
The report also revealed that despite the arrival of cheetahs from Africa, the park's management plan for 2020-2030 does not mention the reintroduction of cheetahs.
When asked about these concerns, chief conservator of forests and Project Lion director Uttam Sharma said they had provided answers to the auditors but declined to share specific details. "It is a routine exercise that is carried out in several phases. Any action, if necessary, will be taken once the entire process is completed," he said.
The audit, which covered the period from August 2019 to November 2023, found that ground staff and the Kuno Wildlife Division were not involved in either "site selection" or the "cheetah reintroduction study." ".
The report, obtained under the Right to Information Act, says the Kuno Sanctuary was originally identified as a second habitat for Asiatic lions. "However, no effort has been made for reintroduction of Asiatic lions till November 2023," he said. S P Yadav, director general of the International Big Cat Alliance, said last week that natural geographical isolation is occurring between Asiatic lion populations in Gujarat and that there is currently no need to relocate them.
The audit report said: "There was no mention of cheetahs in this management plan... Therefore, the expenditure of Rs 44.14 crore incurred on the Cheetah Project from 2021-22 to 2023-24 (till January of 2024) was not in accordance with the approved management plan."
According to the report, the auditors could not find any record that clarified "under whose instructions the cheetah reintroduction work began." In accordance with the Supreme Court's instructions on January 28, 2020, a three-member committee was formed. members to select the most suitable place for African cheetahs. This panel was required to submit its report to the high court every four months.
"The Supreme Court had only created the expert committee. It was not clear whether the reintroduction of the cheetah would take place only within the Kuno National Park.
"Therefore, there is no chapter on cheetah reintroduction in the management plan. Work related to cheetah reintroduction is being carried out in accordance with the Cheetah Action Plan 2021, prepared by the central government," the Forest Division told auditors. It added that Kuno was to be developed as an alternative habitat for Asiatic lions, as per the Supreme Court decision of April 15, 2013, and the state government took it up." totally serious."
The audit report said: "It is clear from the statements of the Forest Division that there was a lack of coordination between the departments of the Government of India and the Government of Madhya Pradesh."
"It is also clear that ground staff and the Forest Division were not involved in the site selection or cheetah reintroduction study. The matter has been brought to the attention of the government," he said. The report added that 43 of the 255 sanctioned posts were vacant, "which can have an immediate impact on the protection of forests and wild animals."
The report noted that Prakash Kumar Verma, former Forest Officer of Kuno Wildlife Division, was sent to South Africa and Namibia for training in cheetah management.
However, he was moved to another location just a few days after training, making his "training unusable for cheetah reintroduction and expenditure on him useless." According to the Action Plan for Cheetah Introduction in India , trained staff were not to be removed from cheetah conservation sites for a "minimum period of five years".
Ajay Dubey, a Bhopal-based wildlife activist, said the report raises several important questions, including concerns about "coordination and understanding between central and state government departments", which are crucial for the success of the reintroduction programme. of the cheetah
It is important to note that despite the arrival of African cheetahs to Kuno as part of the first effort of its kind in the world, many key positions remain vacant, directly affecting the management of the animals. As part of the first intercontinental translocation Of big cats, 20 cheetahs have so far been brought to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh: eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023.
Since arriving in India, eight adult cheetahs (three females and five males) have died.
Seventeen cubs have been born in India, of which 12 survived, bringing the total number of cheetahs, including cubs, in Kuno to 24. All are currently in enclosures. The grand initiative will turn two years old on September 17. The 'Action Plan for Cheetah Reintroduction in India' envisages bringing in 12 to 14 cheetahs each year from South Africa, Namibia and other African countries for five years to establish a founding population .
