Grasslands in Kutch likely to host cheetahs from Africa

• Project Cheetah, may be sent to a cheetah-breeding and conservation centre being built in the sprawling grasslands of Banni in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
• They are known for rich wildlife and biodiversity and are spread across an area of 3,847 square kilometres. They are currently legally protected under the status as a protected or reserve forest in India.
• Gandhi Sagar sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is the preferred location for the next lot of wild cats, with Banni being considered a potential habitat for over a decade.
• Banni is a vast grassland in the southern part of Kutch and extends to nearly 3,500 square kilometres. While that is plenty of space, more than that available in Kuno and Gandhi Sagar, there is barely enough prey to sustain a viable population.
• Antelope species such as chinkara and blackbuck — the prey for the cheetah — are present in the Banni landscape but not enough for the big cat. 
• The government’s estimate is that India will need to import anywhere between 10 and 12 adult cheetahs every year for the next five years to groom a sustainable breeding population.