Amid setbacks, NTCA approves web series on Project Cheetah to ‘showcase efforts to the world’ | Web series

Filming is known to likely begin in September, around the second anniversary of Project Cheetah on September 17.

In a letter to Madhya Pradesh’s chief wildlife ranger on July 21, Vaibhav Chandra Mathur, deputy inspector general of the NTCA, wrote that the authority’s eighth technical committee had approved the proposal for a web series on the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore, Project Cheetah.

“In this regard, it is requested that M/s Shen Films and Planting Productions be kindly facilitated to carry out and complete the filming at Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary as per standard terms and conditions, so that the country’s efforts can be showcased to the world,” the letter read.

The state’s chief wildlife ranger approved the proposal on Aug. 6.

“It is requested that permission be granted to Ms Shen Films and Planting Productions for filming as per the terms and conditions and also necessary support be ensured to the team members during documentation of Project Cheetah. Please also ensure that during filming of cheetahs, minimum number of team members carry out their work under the supervision of officials/veterinarians at the bomas,” Subharanjan Sen, the then CWLW of the state, said in a letter to the additional principal conservator of forests, Shivpuri, and divisional forest officer, Mandsaur.

According to the proposal, seen by PTI, the web series will be aired on Discovery Network in 170 countries in different languages.

The film aims to highlight the conceptualisation of Project Cheetah, the difficulties faced in bringing the animal back to India, the status of the cheetahs and the expectations for the future.

The goal is for people to “understand the nuances of this gigantic project,” according to the proposal.

The creators, who have previously collaborated with NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India, have also approached Madhya Pradesh Tourism and MP Tiger Foundation for help in securing funding for the project.

“Though it is not possible to provide financial assistance, we will provide full support for the filming of the web series as directed,” said an official requesting anonymity.

Ajay Dubey, a Bhopal-based wildlife activist, questioned the rush to film the “documentary” and said the project faces “several challenges that should be addressed first.”

He also questioned the process for granting permission to film the web series, pointing out that records indicate that the Project Cheetah Steering Committee formed in May last year to monitor and review the progress of the project and advise the MP forest department and the NTCA on its execution “never discussed the issue”.

So far, twenty cheetahs have been brought to India from Africa – eight from Namibia in September 2022 and twelve from South Africa in February 2023.

Some of the cheetahs were initially released into the wild but were returned to their enclosures on August 13 last year after three cheetahs died of septicaemia.

The only cheetah left in the wild, Pawan, was found dead on Tuesday, with authorities suggesting drowning was the main cause of death.

At a meeting last week, the steering committee decided to release the cheetahs and their cubs into the wild in a phased manner after the monsoon recedes from central parts of the country, which usually happens in the first week of October.

The project initially drew criticism due to the deaths of the animals. However, with the birth of 12 cubs this year, officials say the project is on the right track.

Since arriving in India, eight adult cheetahs (three females and five males) have died. Seventeen cubs have been born in India, of which twelve have survived.

According to officials, India has also accelerated efforts to bring in a new batch of 12 to 14 cheetahs by the end of the year, and a delegation will visit South Africa soon to hold land-to-land negotiations.

PTI has learnt that negotiations are also underway with Kenya and an MoU is being finalised.

The ‘Action Plan for Cheetah Reintroduction in India’ envisages bringing in 12-14 cheetahs every year from South Africa, Namibia and other African countries for five years to establish a founder population.

The next batch of cheetahs will be brought to Gandhi Sagar, selected as the second site for cheetah introduction, as Kuno has already exceeded its carrying capacity of 20 cheetahs.

PTI has also learnt that Kuno, the first home of translocated cheetahs in India, continues to struggle with a large leopard population and low prey base, which has delayed preparations at Gandhi Sagar.

Summary minutes of steering committee meetings also reveal that prey growth and leopard management are among the key challenges facing the initiative.

As an interim solution, the authorities have introduced dams in both Kuno and Gandhi Sagar. The high leopard population in both areas has also prompted the initiation of a leopard translocation drive.

Cheetahs have co-existed with leopards and lions in Africa, but some Indian officials consider the high leopard population in Kuno and Gandhi Sagar problematic as it would “reduce the prey biomass of cheetahs.”

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.