Prey translocation begins for Banni Cheetah Conservation Project

Gandhinagar: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has committed to sending four cheetahs to the Banni Cheetah Breeding Centre in Kutch, Gujarat, following the monsoon season. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Forest Department expects four to six cheetahs to arrive after September, sourced directly from the Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

Prey Base Enhancement

Following NTCA directives to expand the herbivorous prey population for the upcoming big cats, translocation efforts have commenced.

• Out of 500 blackbucks approved by the Government of India for transfer from Velavadar Blackbuck National Park to Banni, 9 animals were dispatched in the initial phase.

• The remaining blackbucks will be shifted in phases over the course of the year.

• The Banni Breeding Centre currently holds over 800 prey animals, including chital, sambar, and blackbuck.

Infrastructure & Procurement Upgrades

Following recommendations by MP IFS officer Uttar Kumar Sharma—who developed the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary—during his visit to Kutch, extensive infrastructure and medical purchases have been made:

• Medical Equipment & Supplies: Acquired hematology analyzers, ELISA analyzers, biochemistry analyzers, incubators, microscopes, alongside stocks of antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, and general medicine.

• Staffing & Logistics: Recruited two veterinary doctors and two livestock inspectors on contract. Acquired 8 motorcycles, 1 Mahindra Bolero for field personnel, and an Isuzu vehicle specifically equipped for animal translocation.

• Site Enhancements: Construction of a new watchtower is underway, and grass quality improvement programs have expanded onto an additional 50 hectares of land.

Project Funding & Expansion

The grasslands project spans 660 hectares at Banni. Out of ₹20 crore sanctioned by the Central Government, over ₹18 crore has been spent. The site features 60 hectares dedicated to quarantine and soft-release enclosures, alongside 10 distinct 60-hectare enclosures capable of housing up to 10 cheetahs. To accommodate potential future expansion, 20,000 hectares of land have already been reserved.