NTCA Constitutes New Committee to Oversee Cheetah Project

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has established an 11-member Cheetah Project Steering Committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Rajesh Gopal, secretary general of Global Tiger Forum, has been appointed as its chairman. The decision was taken after six cheetahs, who were brought as part of the translocation project, died in the last two months. The other 10 members include RN Mehrotra, former principal chief conservator of forest of Rajasthan; PR Sinha, former director of the Wildlife Institute of India; HS Negi, former APCCF, Wildlife; and PK Malik, former faculty at WII.

GS Rawat, former dean of the WII; Mittal Patel, an Ahmedabad-based social worker; Qamar Qureshi, WII scientist and Inspector General of NTCA; and the MP’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife, and Chief Wildlife Warden are the other members.

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NTCA Constitutes New Committee to Oversee Cheetah Project: Key Points

A consulting panel of international cheetah experts will provide advice as and when required for the Cheetah Project
The panel includes Adrian Tordiffe, Veterinary Wildlife Specialist, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Laurie Marker, Cheetah Conservation Fund, Namibia; Andrew John Fraser, Farm Olivenbosch, South Africa and Vincent van dan Merwe, Manager, Cheetah Metapopulation Project, South Africa.
The ministry has informed that the high-level committee has been set up to review, progress, monitor, and give advice on the cheetah introduction to the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and the NTCA.
It will provide suggestions on opening the cheetah habitat for eco-tourism and regulations in this regard.
The panel, which will be in force for two years and hold at least one meeting every month, will also provide suggestions on community interface and their involvement in project activities.