Madhya Pradesh: 'Giraffes won't adapt to Indian ecology'

Giraffes in MP? How feasible is it? TOI spoke to Thane-based conservationist Tushar Kulkarni, who is conducting genetic research on giraffes in Indian zoos, and has been invited to speak abroad on his findings. Excerpts.
Did a species similar to giraffe ever exist in India?
n Giraffes are native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Ancestors of giraffes, like Bramatherium and Sivatherium, lived on the Indian Subcontinent about 2.5 to 6 million years ago.Giraffes are found in the wild only in Sub-Saharan Africa. Okapi, the closest relative of giraffe, is found in the wild in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Do you think giraffes can be introduced in India as a browsing herbivore species?
n To my knowledge, giraffes have never been introduced in the wild in any country. They are native to Africa and have evolved to adapt to its habitat, food and terrain. We are not sure if the giraffe will adapt to the Indian habitat, vegetation and environment. India has a different ecological setup. Mostly likely, they cannot adapt.
What do you think would be the fate of such a reintroduction project?
n We do not know. The giraffe is adapted to survive and thrive in a completely different habitat and environment. There are high chances it won't survive in Indian environment.
Is there a suitable habitat for giraffes anywhere in India?
n Again, we do not know the suitability of habitat of India for giraffes. There has been no study or research that I know of.
P.Naveen@tim
Are there large carnivore species that can prey on giraffes if introduced in India?
n It's possible that carnivores can prey on giraffes, but they are mega fauna and not easy to hunt. Carnivores normally try to hunt giraffe calves.
Do international laws allow such introductions?
n I am not aware of any international laws on this. Giraffes are translocated within Africa to repopulate areas where they have gone extinct, and to maintain or enhance the genetic diversity of giraffe in a particular area. To my knowledge, giraffe has never been introduced in the wild in any other country.