Bhopal, May 11: The cheetah reintroduction initiative in Madhya Pradesh appears to be gaining momentum. The population of cheetahs is steadily increasing, particularly in the open forests. In this context, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released two female cheetahs into the wild on Monday.
During the release at Kuno National Park in Shyopur district, Chief Minister Yadav emphasized that Madhya Pradesh has successfully created a conducive environment for the reintroduction of cheetahs, integrating them into the local ecosystem.
He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “Project Cheetah” at Kuno over three years ago. Today, this project is achieving new milestones in cheetah reintroduction across the country, with Madhya Pradesh setting remarkable records.
The Chief Minister released the two female cheetahs, named CCV-2 and CCV-3, at a site along the Kuno River. He highlighted that Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a key center for religion, investment, and biodiversity.
The reintroduction efforts have been consistently successful, with cheetahs brought from Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana. Currently, the state has established its identity as the “Cheetah State” in India, with a total of 57 cheetahs—54 residing in Kuno National Park and three in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
Prime Minister Modi initiated “Project Cheetah” on September 17, 2022, by releasing eight cheetahs from Namibia into Kuno National Park. This marked the world’s first intercontinental big cat relocation project. In 2023, an additional 12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa, followed by nine from Botswana in February of the same year.
The cheetah population at Kuno National Park is on the rise. Notably, in March 2023, a female cheetah named Jwala gave birth to the first cubs in India after nearly 70 years.
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