Cheetah
Why it Matters?
India is actively engaging with African nations to bolster its cheetah translocation project amidst diplomatic and logistical hurdles, aiming to expand the population in Kuno and Gandhisagar sanctuaries.
What You Should Know?
Cheetahs are among the oldest of the big cat species, with their ancestors going back about 8.5 million years.
Feature
African Cheetah
Asiatic Cheetah
Size & Build
Slightly larger
Slightly smaller
Skin Colour
Slightly brownish, golden
Pale yellowish-fawn
Fur Density
Thicker skin
More fur under the body
Facial Markings
More prominent facial spots and lines
Less prominent markings
Habitat
Found all over the African continent
Found only in Iran
Status in India
Not native
Declared extinct in India in 1952
IUCN Status
Vulnerable
Critically Endangered
Note:
Project Cheetah
It was launched in September 2022 and introduced African cheetahs into India from Namibia and South Africa.
It is the world’s first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation project.