The Supreme Court recently allowed the Centre to introduce the African cheetah to a suitable habitat in India.
Stating that the rare Indian cheetah is almost extinct in the country, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had filed an application seeking permission for the introduction of the African cheetah from Namibia.
The top court also said the decision for relocation of the African cheetah will be taken after a proper survey and the action of introduction of the animal will be left to the NTCA’s discretion.
The re-introduction of the cheetah would make India only country in the world to host six of world’s eight large cats including lions, tigers, jaguars, panthers and leopards.