I just thought that I would rekindle an old debate.

There is an opinion that the Cheetah was never a native wild animal in India and that the Moghul Emperors introduced it from Persia in the 1400s or a bit earlier.

Indian art & architecture has icons of lions, tigers & leopards that are are 2000 to 5000 years old. But such art icons of cheetahs start only form the 13th century or so. I tried to get some background information on this debate a few years ago but failed to do so.

Introducing non-native species is almost as old as human civilization. The Romans introduced the Fallow deer into Britain 2300 years ago. Several Indian kings introduced Chittal deer as it is so beautiful. Sariska sanctuary has litterlly 1000's of Chittal & yet they were introduced by the local king within the last 100 years.

The problem with regulated hunting in India is the fragmented nature of the forest areas. It is rare to find contiguous wide spread forests without any villages in the middle & so it is impossible to control the boundaries.

No harm dreaming.