The Crossbill News Desk
The Cheetah Project Steering Committee has given an in-principle nod to relocating a few cheetahs from Kuno National Park to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, also in Madhya Pradesh, amid ongoing concerns about the availability of adequate prey and the presence of leopards, which are competing co-predators.
At a recent meeting, the committee approved the proposal but stressed that the transfer—over a 300-kilometre road journey—must be carried out cautiously, especially given the soaring temperatures that could cause stress to the animals.
Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in the northwestern part of the state, has been identified as a critical site for the long-term conservation of cheetahs in India. It is part of a broader vision to create a metapopulation of around 60 to 70 cheetahs across a contiguous landscape stretching between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Although Gandhi Sagar was initially earmarked for receiving the next batch of African cheetahs, delays in international agreements have led to this interim move involving cheetahs already in India.
Currently, Kuno hosts 26 cheetahs, with 17 in the wild and nine in enclosures. It remains undecided which of these animals will be shifted to Gandhi Sagar.
The relocation plan’s first phase involves releasing four to five cheetahs into a specially fenced area of about 64 square kilometres in the sanctuary’s western zone. To reduce potential conflict, local leopards have been relocated.
However, the lack of a sufficient prey base at Gandhi Sagar remains a key concern too. The forest department is attempting to address this through the translocation of chital from other forests and establishing herbivore breeding enclosures for species such as chinkara, chousingha, nilgai, and chital.
Meanwhile, the committee also took note of a recent controversy involving a viral video where a driver, reportedly hired by the forest department, was seen offering water to a cheetah and her cubs.
The committee expressed serious concern over the breach of protocol and urged the Madhya Pradesh forest department to reinforce standard operating procedures.
It recommended better training for ground staff and greater involvement of 'cheetah mitras'—local wildlife volunteers—to ensure responsible interaction with the animals. Additionally, the committee emphasised the need to ensure adequate water supply in the sanctuaries during the peak summer months.
The Cheetah Project Steering Committee, formed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in May 2023, serves as an advisory and monitoring body for Project Cheetah. Launched in 2022, the project began with the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia and twelve from South Africa to Kuno National Park. Since then, the initiative has faced several setbacks, including the deaths of eight adult cheetahs and five cubs born in India.
The proposed move to Gandhi Sagar is now being viewed as a critical step in reviving momentum for Project Cheetah and establishing a sustainable future for the species in India.
At a recent meeting, the committee approved the proposal but stressed that the transfer—over a 300-kilometre road journey—must be carried out cautiously, especially given the soaring temperatures that could cause stress to the animals.
Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in the northwestern part of the state, has been identified as a critical site for the long-term conservation of cheetahs in India. It is part of a broader vision to create a metapopulation of around 60 to 70 cheetahs across a contiguous landscape stretching between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Although Gandhi Sagar was initially earmarked for receiving the next batch of African cheetahs, delays in international agreements have led to this interim move involving cheetahs already in India.
Currently, Kuno hosts 26 cheetahs, with 17 in the wild and nine in enclosures. It remains undecided which of these animals will be shifted to Gandhi Sagar.
The relocation plan’s first phase involves releasing four to five cheetahs into a specially fenced area of about 64 square kilometres in the sanctuary’s western zone. To reduce potential conflict, local leopards have been relocated.
However, the lack of a sufficient prey base at Gandhi Sagar remains a key concern too. The forest department is attempting to address this through the translocation of chital from other forests and establishing herbivore breeding enclosures for species such as chinkara, chousingha, nilgai, and chital.
Meanwhile, the committee also took note of a recent controversy involving a viral video where a driver, reportedly hired by the forest department, was seen offering water to a cheetah and her cubs.
The committee expressed serious concern over the breach of protocol and urged the Madhya Pradesh forest department to reinforce standard operating procedures.
It recommended better training for ground staff and greater involvement of 'cheetah mitras'—local wildlife volunteers—to ensure responsible interaction with the animals. Additionally, the committee emphasised the need to ensure adequate water supply in the sanctuaries during the peak summer months.
The Cheetah Project Steering Committee, formed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in May 2023, serves as an advisory and monitoring body for Project Cheetah. Launched in 2022, the project began with the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia and twelve from South Africa to Kuno National Park. Since then, the initiative has faced several setbacks, including the deaths of eight adult cheetahs and five cubs born in India.
The proposed move to Gandhi Sagar is now being viewed as a critical step in reviving momentum for Project Cheetah and establishing a sustainable future for the species in India.
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