News: The Supreme Court has allowed the introduction of African Cheetah from Namibia in India. The Court also set up a three-member committee to guide National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on cheetah reintroduction.
Facts:
Cheetah:
- IUCN Status: Vulnerable
- Geographic range: North, Southern and East Africa, and a few localities in Iran
- Cheetah in India: Extinct in India since 1947
Additional Information:
Background: The Supreme Court had earlier stayed African Cheetah reintroduction in Pradesh’s Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Established in 2005, NTCA is a statutory body under MoEFCC which oversees management of Project Tiger and Tiger Reserves in India.
Kuno- Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location: Sheopur and Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh
- Status of the wildlife sanctuary changed to Kuno National Park in 2018.