The Asian cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), once found in large numbers across India, Iran, and parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, is now critically endangered. In fact, it became extinct in India by the 1950s, and only a few individuals now survive in Iran, making it one of the rarest big cats in the world. The extinction of the Asian cheetah in India during the last century is a tragic example of how human activities and ecological changes can lead to the disappearance of iconic species.
But why did the Asian cheetah become extinct in the last century? What factors contributed to the rapid decline of this majestic animal? Let’s explore the primary reasons behind the extinction of the Asian cheetah, especially in the Indian subcontinent, and understand what lessons can be learned from this ecological loss.
1. Overhunting and Royal Sport
One of the main reasons for the extinction of the Asian cheetah was overhunting, especially during the Mughal period and later under British colonial rule. Cheetahs were considered a status symbol and were commonly used by Indian royalty for hunting expeditions.
How Overhunting Contributed to Extinction:
- Cheetahs were captured in large numbers and trained for hunting gazelles and other prey for royal entertainment.
- Since cheetahs do not breed well in captivity, the constant capture from the wild reduced their natural population.
- The elite hunting culture, which persisted during the British Raj, decimated wild cheetah populations.
The Mughals, Rajputs, and British officers alike prized cheetahs for their speed and hunting prowess, but this widespread use ultimately pushed them toward extinction in the wild.
2. Loss of Habitat Due to Agriculture and Development
The Asian cheetah primarily inhabited grasslands, open plains, and semi-arid regions. However, in the 19th and 20th centuries, large-scale agricultural expansion, industrial development, and deforestation led to massive habitat loss.
Key Factors of Habitat Loss:
- The conversion of grasslands into farmlands reduced the cheetah’s natural hunting grounds.
- Overgrazing by livestock further degraded the habitat, making it unsuitable for cheetahs and their prey.
- Urbanization and infrastructure projects fragmented the remaining habitats, isolating cheetah populations and disrupting their movement.
The Asian cheetah’s dependence on vast, open spaces for hunting made it especially vulnerable to habitat destruction, which significantly impacted its chances of survival.
3. Decline in Prey Base
Cheetahs rely on herbivorous prey such as blackbuck, chinkara, and gazelles. However, the unregulated hunting of these prey species, combined with habitat loss, led to a sharp decline in their populations.
Impact of Prey Depletion:
- Without sufficient prey, cheetahs could not meet their energy needs, leading to starvation and reduced reproduction rates.
- The decline in prey also forced cheetahs to venture closer to human settlements, where they were more vulnerable to being hunted.
The disappearance of prey created a vicious cycle, accelerating the extinction of the Asian cheetah in India.
4. Human-Wildlife Conflict
As human populations expanded, the interface between humans and wildlife grew, resulting in increased conflict. Cheetahs, when deprived of their natural prey, sometimes preyed on livestock, leading to retaliatory killings by farmers.
How Human Conflict Led to Extinction:
- Cheetahs were seen as threats to livestock, leading to systematic extermination by local communities.
- Lack of legal protection and public awareness at the time meant there were no conservation measures in place to prevent such killings.
This hostile relationship between humans and cheetahs further hastened their extinction in the region.
5. Lack of Conservation Efforts
Unlike other big cats like tigers and lions, which received government protection and conservation attention, the cheetah did not benefit from such efforts. By the time the Indian government recognized the need for conservation, it was too late—the last confirmed sightings of the cheetah were in the 1940s.
Key Conservation Failures:
- No breeding programs were established, even though cheetahs were known to be declining.
- Inadequate legal protection under colonial and post-colonial governance.
- Lack of scientific research on cheetah populations and their ecological needs.
The absence of proactive conservation policies played a crucial role in the extinction of the Asian cheetah in India.
6. Competition with Other Predators
Cheetahs are less aggressive than other big predators like lions, leopards, and tigers. In areas where habitats overlapped, cheetahs often lost out in competition for prey and were vulnerable to predation by larger carnivores, especially their cubs.
Challenges from Predators:
- Cheetah cubs were often killed by lions and leopards.
- The dominance of stronger predators in overlapping habitats reduced the cheetah’s survival chances.
This natural competition, coupled with human-induced threats, further diminished their already declining population.
Conclusion
The extinction of the Asian cheetah in India during the last century was the result of a combination of human activities, including overhunting, habitat destruction, prey depletion, and human-wildlife conflict. Additionally, the lack of timely conservation efforts and competition with other predators sealed the fate of this majestic animal.
Today, only around 12 Asiatic cheetahs survive in Iran, making them critically endangered. However, India is now working on cheetah reintroduction projects, such as bringing African cheetahs into Indian wildlife reserves, in the hope of restoring some of what was lost.
The extinction of the Asian cheetah in India serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of ecosystems and the urgent need for wildlife conservation. It teaches us that protecting habitats, preventing overexploitation, and ensuring coexistence between humans and wildlife are essential to preserving our biodiversity for future generations.
Rahul Kumar is a passionate educator, writer, and subject matter expert in the field of education and professional development. As an author on CoursesXpert, Rahul Kumar’s articles cover a wide range of topics, from various courses, educational and career guidance.
