In a major step towards bringing cheetahs to Gujarat, around 500 blackbucks from the Velavadar and Bhal regions of Bhavnagar district will be moved to the Banni grasslands in Kutch. Banni is being developed as what could become India’s second major cheetah habitat after Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
The Central Government has approved the relocation of blackbucks to help create a strong prey base for cheetahs. Forest officials say that Banni currently does not have enough prey animals to support large predators like cheetahs. To prepare the habitat, the forest department has already introduced animals such as chital (spotted deer) and sambar deer, and is now focusing on blackbucks, which are one of the cheetah’s preferred prey species.
At the same time, the Gujarat Government and the Central Government are jointly working on India’s first captive breeding and conservation centre for cheetahs in the Banni grasslands.
According to the latest census, there are around 6,300 blackbucks in the Bhavnagar region. These animals are spread across 32 villages, including Vallabhipur, Sihor, Dholera, Velavadar, and other areas of the Bhal region. Out of the total population, about 2,200 blackbucks live inside Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, while the remaining animals live outside protected areas.
Blackbucks living outside protected areas face several dangers. These include floods, attacks by stray dogs, road accidents, increasing human interference, infrastructure development around Dholera, expansion of salt pans, and the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.
Dheeraj Mittal, Conservator of Forests for the Kutch Circle, said that the Central Government has approved the relocation of blackbucks to Banni. He explained that moving blackbucks from non-protected areas of Bhavnagar will benefit both the animals and the ecosystem. The animals will get a safer habitat, while their presence will help strengthen the food chain needed for cheetahs in Banni.
Officials also noted that the grassland ecosystem of Banni is very similar to that of the Bhal region, making it a suitable new home for blackbucks.
Forest officials have suggested that the first group of blackbucks should be captured from areas facing the highest threats and moved to the safer environment available in Banni.
Meanwhile, the first batch of three cheetahs is expected to arrive in Banni during the monsoon season. The animals are currently undergoing mandatory quarantine and isolation procedures at a special facility in Kuno.
If the plan succeeds, Banni could soon become a key centre for cheetah conservation in India, supported by a growing population of prey animals and a specially developed habitat for the big cats.
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