Bhopal: With lions known for establishing
their supremacy in their habitat, the Centre has advised
Madhya Pradesh to shift the big cats from Gir in Gujarat only
after relocating African cheetahs in the state.
Wildlife experts working on the possible relocation of
two endangered species in the state have opined it would be
better to first introduce the Asiatic lion prior to bringing
in the African Cheeta so as to maintain the ecology cycle.
The Centre has recently written a letter to the State
government stating that African Cheetahs should be relocated
in Madhya Pradesh followed by lions from Gir, according to
forest officials here.
"The Centre, in the letter, has said that if the State
government gives its permission then it would on its expense
bring 10 African Cheetahs each to Naurodehi in Damoh district
and Palpur Kuno in the Sheopur district," they told PTI.
A Central team, led by wildlife experts M K Ranjeet
Singh and Y K Shukla, had recently undertaken a survey of five
wildlife sanctuaries following which Naurodehi and Palpur Kuno
were selected for relocating cheetahs, they said.
The two experts held the view that lions from Gir in
Gujarat would be settled in two places in Madhya Pradesh only
after the African cheetahs were relocated there.
"The experts felt that it is not possible to bring
lions first as they establish their supremacy in areas and do
not allow other animals to come inside it," the officials
said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 19:41