None of the officials have any cheetah management experience: Centre to SC

The Centre Thursday told the Supreme Court that no officials including members of the court-appointed committee have any experience in cheetah management in India as the animal went extinct from the country in 1947-48.

It said the Centre and state governments through exchange visits, study tours, capacity building and training programs with African countries have trained significant number of forest officials and veterinarians who have experience of working with African wildlife species including cheetahs.

Some of these officials and veterinarians are actively involved in implementation of Project Cheetah in India, it added.

"It is noteworthy to mention that cheetah went extinct from India in year 1947-48 and because of the absence of species from the country none of the officials including the members of the expert committee (contrary to their claim of being an expert in Cheetah) appointed by this court had management experience in Cheetah in India," the Centre said in its ...