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Some Good News
Feb. 26th, 2020 10:23 pmFor several years, I've been following a case in India regarding the reintroduction of cheetahs. In brief, it was proposed to reintroduce cheetahs to the Indian subcontinent, where they historically existed. However, there were arguments over whether or not the African cheetah subspecies were too different from the Asiatic cheetah to use the African cheetah in the introduce program. It's basically the age old splitting versus lumping debate in taxonomy.
Unfortunately, there are only about 50 Asiatic cheetahs left; the subspecies is critically endangered. Insisting upon the reintroduction of the Asiatic cheetah is practically the same as insisting upon no reintroduction at all, and to the best of my knowledge the practical differences (in other words, the ones that would affect their role in the ecosystem) between the two subspecies are rather speculative.
So the plan got put on hold by the Indian Supreme Court back in 2012. Why they were the ones doing it I honestly could not tell you; I care more about where the project is than I do about fine political details I really can't affect.
But last month the Court gave it's approval, so the project is--currently--a go.
Unfortunately, there are only about 50 Asiatic cheetahs left; the subspecies is critically endangered. Insisting upon the reintroduction of the Asiatic cheetah is practically the same as insisting upon no reintroduction at all, and to the best of my knowledge the practical differences (in other words, the ones that would affect their role in the ecosystem) between the two subspecies are rather speculative.
So the plan got put on hold by the Indian Supreme Court back in 2012. Why they were the ones doing it I honestly could not tell you; I care more about where the project is than I do about fine political details I really can't affect.
But last month the Court gave it's approval, so the project is--currently--a go.
