70 years after they became extinct: India will try to restore the cheetahs to nature

The Supreme Court has authorized the government to launch an experimental program aimed at redefining the predatory cat population in the country. Only 7,000 cheats remain worldwide. Some environmental conservation experts believe the plan is not feasible

On the way to a comeback in India? (Photo: GettyImages)

Cheetah breaks personal record in 100m run (Photo: GettyImages)

The Supreme Court of India has authorized the cheetahs to return to nature, more than 70 years after they became extinct. In response to the government's appeal, the court ruled that the cheetahs could be returned to "carefully selected areas" while considering whether they could adapt to conditions in the state.

Only 7,100 cheats remain in the world, at least 90% of them in Africa, and are endangered species. Studies show that at least 200 cheetahs were killed in the country, most by sheep and goats, during the colonial period. It is the only large mammal extinct in the country since it gained independence from Britain in 1947.

Former Minister of Environment in India Jairam Ramesh welcomed the decision. For more than a decade, wildlife service officials, cheating experts and environmental activists from around the world have been discussing the reintroduction of the big, spotted cat to India, and have agreed that there is a strong foundation for it.

However, other senior environmental conservation experts are questioning the plan. They fear that if it is done recklessly, the animals will be housed under semi-captive conditions in huge zoos, and will not be truly free in nature. In addition, they say that without restoring the habitats and prey of the cheetahs, and the high likelihood of incidents against humans, sustainable populations cannot be established. They also cited India’s problematic past in restoring species to nature.

Due to hunting and illegal trafficking: the world's fastest endangered animal