Madhya Pradesh Expands Cheetah Reintroduction Program with Release of Two Cheetahs

Bhopal, October 7 (Daily Kiran) : Madhya Pradesh has taken a significant step in its cheetah reintroduction program by expanding it to a third location. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the release of two cheetahs, a male named ‘Vyom’ and a female named ‘Neera,’ into the Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar.

This development is crucial for India’s cheetah conservation efforts, as these two animals have been introduced into a reserve that already hosts tigers, unlike some other cheetah habitats in the state. Chief Minister Yadav emphasized that Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a suitable area for re-establishing this species, which has been extinct in Asia.

“Successfully reintroducing the cheetah species, which vanished from Asia, is a significant milestone in wildlife conservation,” he stated. The number of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh has grown to 60 since the initial introduction of eight cheetahs. Yadav attributed this increase to improved wildlife management and the state’s evolving ecosystem.

He also announced that two more cheetahs will be introduced to the reserve next month. “From the original eight, we have now reached 60. This reflects our robust wildlife management and the developing ecosystem,” he added.

The Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve, formerly known as Naoradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, is now the third location in Madhya Pradesh for cheetah habitation, following Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Yadav highlighted that the area where the cheetahs were released has a history of cheetah sightings dating back nearly 170 years.

The Chief Minister noted that the cheetah project not only strengthens wildlife conservation but also creates new opportunities for tourism and employment. He mentioned that a conducive environment has been established in the Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve for both tigers and cheetahs.

Yadav stressed the importance of involving local communities in the economic benefits derived from wildlife tourism. This year, the state’s sanctuaries generated approximately 800 million rupees, with 200 million rupees distributed among villagers living near these protected areas.

“This is their right, as they have lived in villages and homes around these sanctuaries for years,” he said. The state government is promoting homestays in the tiger reserve’s buffer zone, providing local residents with grants of 200,000 to 300,000 rupees for this initiative.

Yadav also pointed out that promoting livestock farming in areas with limited agricultural land can support rural livelihoods while aiding wildlife conservation. He made these remarks during the closing ceremony of Wildlife Conservation Week at the reserve, where he released the ‘Vulture Population Assessment-2026’ report and unveiled a book on the Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve in the Bundeli language.

He congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years as an elected representative and recalled that the cheetah project was launched in Madhya Pradesh during Modi’s visit in 2022. Yadav concluded that the expansion of the cheetah program will bolster the state’s ecosystem and generate new tourism and employment opportunities.