India is reintroducing cheetahs as the top predator after 70 years of being extinct due to excessive hunting for its iconic spotted fur and habitat loss. Up to 20 cheetahs will be making their long journey from South Africa and Namibia to India.
Cheetahs, the fastest animal on the planet, were the apex predator in India decades ago. They were one of the species that kept the trophic pyramid balanced, but when they were overhunted and became extinct, the herbivore population skyrocketed. There were too many of them, resulting in loss of vegetation, more soil erosion, less water in the fields, and overall a negative impact on the health of the ecosystem.
Currently, these cheetahs are in quarantine in Africa to test for diseases and vaccinate for rabies, blood parasites, herpes, and other common diseases. They will be constantly monitored to be aware of any concerns or diseases that pop up.
When the cheetahs go on their long flight to India, they will not be fed for two days before and during the flight. If fed, they can get sick, possibly choke on the food, and become very stressed in confined spaces. They will be immobilized with tranquilizers on the day of the flight and put into crates while being accompanied by wildlife specialists.
After they land in India, they will again be quarantined to ensure non-native insects are eradicated. Those insects can impose a risk, since they will most likely have no natural predator, making them an invasive species. As result, the ecosystem and food chain will become erupt.
One of the challenges these cheetahs will face is exposure to other predators and new species, such as leopards and lions. Cheetahs tend to avoid conflict, but they can be targeted by other competing predators. These cheetahs will have to adapt to their new environment.
This reintroduction will be a huge step toward conserving the cheetah population because, in other places around the world, they are dying due to the change in their habitat. These researchers are trying to revive the species to prevent them from completely becoming extinct. I hope they can succeed.
Biswas, Soutik. (2022, August 3). Inside India's plan to bring back extinct cheetahs - BBC news. Inside India's plan to bring back extinct cheetahs. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-62377387
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