Current Affairs

UPSC Rajesh Gopal Committee - English

Context

5. Following the death of three cheetah cubs in a span of one week, the Central government has appointed a new steering committee to oversee the implementation of Project Cheetah. 

Details:

5. The ambitious Project Cheetah has suffered a setback as three out of four cubs born in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh have died.
5. These cubs were born to a translocated Namibian cheetah at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in March 2023.
5. Experts believe that the extreme heat and the lack of adequate nutrition might have contributed to the death.
5. Furthermore, three adult cheetahs have also died to date since 20 of the animals were relocated from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park.

About Kuno Palpur National Park:

5. Location: Kuno National Park lies in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh in Central India near the Vindhyan Hills.
5. With an area of 748 sq. km, the park is located within the larger Kuno Wildlife Division.
5. Initially established as a wildlife sanctuary, it was only in 2018 that the government changed its status into a national park.
5. Named after the Kuno River (One of the main tributaries of the Chambal River) that cuts across it, Kuno is primarily a grassland region.
5. Flora and Fauna: The protected area of the forest is home to the jungle cat, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox and dhole, along with more than 120 bird species
5. Kuno National Park was selected under ‘Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India’.

Project Cheetah:

5. World's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.
5. Project Cheetah was approved by the Supreme Court of India in January 2020 as a pilot programme to reintroduce the species to India.
5. Close to 50 cheetahs will be introduced into the wild over the next five years.

Rajesh Gopal Committee

5. An 11-member committee, headed by Dr. Rajesh Gopal, secretary-general of Global Tiger Forum and former India Forest Service officer closely associated with Project Tiger, has been formed to oversee the implementation of Project Cheetah.
5. This committee also comprises other national and international experts.
5. The key mandate of the committee is:
5. To monitor the progress of the cheetah reintroduction programme.
5. Advise the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and the National Tiger Conservation Authority to decide on opening up the cheetah habitat for eco-tourism.
5. Recommend regulations in this regard and ways to involve the local community in the project activities.
5. The Cheetah Project Steering Committee will be in force for two years.
5. The Committee is required to convene at least one meeting every month and conduct field visits to the Kuno National Park.

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