Rajkot: In a significant move to establish a cheetah population in Gujarat, approximately 500 blackbucks from Bhavnagar's Velavadar and Bhal region will be relocated to Kutch's Banni grasslands. This area is expected to become India's second major cheetah habitat after Kuno in Madhya Pradesh.
Center Approves Translocation for Prey Base Enhancement
The central government has approved the translocation as part of efforts to create a robust prey base for the big cats. Forest officials noted that the prey density in Banni is currently insufficient to sustain large predators. As part of habitat preparation, the department has already introduced species such as chital and sambar and is now focusing on blackbucks, one of the cheetah's preferred prey species.
Joint Development of Cheetah Conservation Centre
The Centre and the Gujarat government are jointly developing India's first captive breeding and conservation centre for cheetahs in the Banni grasslands. Blackbucks are found across 32 villages in Vallabhipur, Sihor, Dholera, Velavadar, and the wider Bhal region. According to the latest census, their population is close to 6,300.
Dheeraj Mittal, conservator of forests, Kutch circle, said, "We have received approval from the central government to shift blackbucks to Banni. Blackbucks living in revenue (non-protected) areas of Bhavnagar face increasing human interference. This will be a win-win situation, as the animals will get a new habitat while helping strengthen the ecosystem in Banni."
Assistant conservator of forests, Velavadar, Nilesh Joshi, said Banni's grassland ecosystem closely resembles that of the Bhal region. "Blackbucks in revenue areas face multiple threats, including attacks by stray dogs, infrastructure development around Dholera, expansion of salt pans, and conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural use. I have suggested that the first batch of blackbucks be captured from these areas so they can be relocated to the safer habitat available in Banni," Joshi said.
First Batch of Cheetahs Expected During Monsoon
The first batch of three cheetahs is expected to arrive in Banni during the monsoon. The animals are currently undergoing mandatory quarantine and isolation procedures at a special facility in Kuno. Officials are also working on plans to import cheetahs from South Africa under the national cheetah reintroduction programme.
NTCA Overseeing Habitat Development
The project is being implemented under the supervision of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which is overseeing habitat development, prey augmentation, and long-term conservation planning for the species in Gujarat.
