Indian Oil signs MoU with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for transcontinental relocation of ‘cheetah’ in its historical range in India

• Indian Oil has signed MoU in continuation with the MoU signed on 20th July 2022 between India and Namibia on wildlife conservation and sustainable biodiversity utilisation, for establishing the cheetah into the historical range in India.
• Indian Oil is the first corporate which has come forward to support the “Project Cheetah” under CSR, as the project has not only national importance but is also essential for balancing the ecosystem.
• It will be contributing Rs.50.22 crore in 4 years for the project components viz. Cheetah Introduction, its Habitat Management & Protection, Eco Development, Staff Training and Veterinary Healthcare.

Key Highlights of the MoU:

• Cheetah restoration will be part of a prototype for restoration of original cheetah habitats and their biodiversity, helping to stem the degradation and rapid loss of biodiversity.
• Under this project, a source population of 8-10 Cheetahs will be flown in from Namibia and South Africa and will be introduced at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
• NTCA is the nodal agency authorised by MoEF&CC for funding, supervision and hand holding. Indian Oil will contribute its CSR funds to NTCA, which shall co-ordinate with the State Govt. of Madhya Pradesh and other agencies involved in the project.

Project Cheetah:

• One-of-a-kind projects in which a species is being restored in the country by bringing it from out of the country (from South Africa / Namibia).
• African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) will be reintroduced in India in place of previously extinct Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus).
• The Cheetah introduction project in Kuno National Park involves creating a 500-hectare predator proof enclosure for a ‘soft release’ of the feline.
• Introduction would commence in a phased manner with few individuals after construction of the soft release enclosure and augmentation of protection, while other actions are under way.
• The first batch of Cheetah would be soft released in the enclosure with GPS / GSM or GPS / Satellite transmitters.

Kuno National Park: