Indian Experts Oppose Fences for Cheetah Habitats, Cite Conservation Concerns

New Delhi: India’s high-level committee overseeing the cheetah reintroduction project has rejected the idea of fenced habitats for the cheetahs, citing concerns about wildlife conservation.

While experts from South Africa and Namibia recommend fencing to prevent poaching and human-animal conflicts, Indian experts argue that fences can disrupt natural animal movements and hinder genetic exchange between populations.

The chairman of the cheetah steering committee emphasizes the importance of regional networks of protected areas and the need for porosity to allow wildlife gene flow.

Despite concerns raised by experts and the Supreme Court, efforts are underway to prepare the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh as an alternative habitat for cheetahs.

The central government is providing support, including financial resources and a cheetah protection force. Additional cheetahs will be released into the wild in June, following the release of previous batches.

The committee plans to conduct a landscape fragmentation analysis to identify vulnerable areas and address potential conflicts between cheetahs and humans.