The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)

MP completes preparatio­ns for second cheetah home – Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

THE MADHYA Pradesh government has completed preparatio­ns for its ambitious cheetah reintroduc­tion project at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is slated to be the second home for cheetahs in India after Kuno National Park, an official said on Tuesday.

Teams from Kenya and South Africa had earlier visited Gandhi Sagar to assess the conditions, the official said.

He also said that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav chaired a meeting of the wildlife board in which it was informed that preparatio­ns have been completed. Prey animals have been relocated from Kanha, Satpura and Sanjay tiger reserves, the official said.

A wildlife department official said, “All preparatio­ns have been completed for reintroduc­tion of the cheetah in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. Cheetals have been reintroduc­ed from Kanha and other places to increase their population in the region. 50 gaurs (Indian bisons) have also been successful­ly reintroduc­ed from Kanha and Satpura Tiger Reserve to the Sanjay Tiger Reserve (in Sidhi district).”

On September 17, 2022, eight Namibian cheetahs – five females and three males – were released into enclosures at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district.

In February 2023, 12 more cheetahs were brought from South Africa.

Now, only 13 of the 20 adult cheetahs survive. Another 13 cubs born to these cheetahs put the total population of the animals in Kuno at 26 currently.

The official said that during the meeting, the chief minister directed officials to conduct a study on the possibilit­y of bringing rhinos and other rare and endangered wild animals to the forests of Madhya Pradesh.