Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Madhya Pradesh takes pride in being part of the MoU between India-Namibia on wildlife conservation and sustainable biodiversity utilisation.
The Cheetah re-introduction project will restore historic evolutionary balance and contribute to global conservation efforts, Chouhan said.
All necessary preparations and training are underway to welcome the first Cheetahs from Namibia to the Kuno National Park located in Madhya Pradesh, India in near future.
India and Namibia sign landmark agreement on Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Biodiversity Utilization on Wednesday.
Also the agreement enables trans-location of a few Cheetahs from Namibia to India.
Amongst the 10 surveyed sites of the central Indian states, Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh has been rated the highest. This is because of its suitable habitat and adequate prey base. KNP is 748 sq. km. in area, devoid of human settlements, forms part of Sheopur-Shivpuri deciduous open forest landscape and is estimated to have a capacity to sustain 21 cheetahs.
Kuno is probably the only wildlife site in the country where there has been a complete relocation of villages from inside the park. Kuno also offers the prospect of housing four big cats of India – tiger, lion, leopard and cheetah – and allowing them to coexist as in the past.
The agreement was signed by India’s Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav and Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is currently visiting India for the 17th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India – Africa Growth Partnership and for several significant bilateral engagements.
The agreement has a strong focus on wildlife conservation to which both the countries attach high importance.
The agreement would promote sharing of good practices in technological applications and livelihood generation for local communities living in wildlife habitats. It will facilitate exchange of personnel for training and education in wildlife management, as also training and support to Namibian personnel in smart patrol, population estimation techniques and for surveillance and monitoring.
High Commissioner of India to Namibia Prashant Agrawal said “The High Commission of India has been privileged to facilitate this Agreement which could also enable transfer of a few Cheetahs from Namibia for introduction back into India’s wilds. Cheetahs is the only large carnivore that has gone extinct in India post its independence, and their introduction back has a special significance as India marks its 75th Independence Anniversary this year.This unique intercontinental trans-location would be the first-of-its kind project ever, and therefore has global attention. It will reaffirm our shared commitment to conservation. These Cheetahs would be the goodwill Ambassadors of Namibia and this friendly gesture on part of Namibia is deeply appreciated by the people of India”.
