India's Struggle to Bring Back the Cheetah

Words by Tvishi Rajesh

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This map is a digitally rendered topographic representations of South Asia (printed in 2D). In order to create these maps, Digital Elevation Data (DEM) is obtained from NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and is processed and digitally rendered to create a highly detailed elevation profile of South Asia and printed on a flat surface. Two versions of the map are available, each with different hypsometric color overlays that highlight the difference in elevation, creating beautiful artworks. (Available as print)

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India's Struggle to Bring Back the Cheetah

The Asiatic cheetah was documented in India centuries ago—historical writings and ancient cave art document its existence. However, the species went extinct in India around 70 years ago after widespread hunting and capture, and due to land use change of grasslands for cultivation. In response to this crisis, Project Cheetah was initiated in 2022 with the goal of reintroducing these magnificent big cats into India. The reintroduced cheetah was to boost conservation by serving as a flagship species for grasslands. However, upon a more detailed examination, it appears as though the project was pushed forward by political motivations despite its severe ecological shortcomings.

The Birth of the Project Cheetah

Rewilding aims to reintroduce species in protected areas where they have gone locally extinct. Although Project Cheetah was initiated only a couple of years ago, the idea of a rewilding project was born soon after the realization that cheetahs were going extinct in India. As far back as 1955, the State Wildlife Board of Andhra Pradesh had suggested the reintroduction of the cheetah in two of its districts, in the 1960s, the pros and cons of such a project were discussed on a national level, and in the 1980s, it sparked international interest once the Cat Specialist Group of Species Survival Commission of the IUCN was alerted.