Cheetahs for MP's Gandhisagar Sanctuary

Five to eight cheetahs will be released into a fenced area in the Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, possibly in the second half of the year ,with a focus on the breeding of animals and favourable weather, according to officials.

A South African delegation reached India on Tuesday to review preparations at Gandhisagar for the introduction of cheetahs and the progress of the project in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

“Officials from South Africa visited the Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary , and were apprised of preparations to receive cheetahs under the ambitious ‘Project Cheetah’. Valuable insights were shared while visiting the bomas, control room, and upcoming veterinary facilities,” read a post on X by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

On Wednesday, the South African delegation met Indian officials in New Delhi, and discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between the two countries in species conservation, especially ‘Project Cheetah’.

Five to eight cheetahs will be released into a fenced area in Gandhisagar with a focus on breeding. This is expected to happen later this year, most likely after the monsoon, officials associated with the project said on Thursday.

A 64-square-km enclosure is being prepared at Gandhisagar which is about a sixhour drive from Kuno. It is spread across 368 sq-km and has an additional 2,500 sq-km area surrounding it. The habitat around the fenced area in a protected area (PA), and animals will be released into free-ranging conditions in the Gandhisagar landscape in phases after ecological restoration and prey recovery, they said.

Cheetahs are listed as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. There has been a steady decline in its population.