https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Gandhi Sagar Home Ready for Cheetahs to Move In

After KNP, Cheetahs are set to reclaim their legacy in Madhya Pradesh’s Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary Six Quarantine Bomas have been created to keep the big cats But why Gandhi Sagar? Read the full article to get the answer
Indian Masterminds Stories

The spotted wonders are set to reclaim another slice of their lost Indian legacy. Madhya Pradesh, having successfully introduced eight cheetahs to the Kuno National Park in September 2022, is now gearing up to welcome a new pride at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, 270 km away. Gandhi Sagar home ready for Cheetahs to move in. This vast sanctuary, spanning 368 square kilometres with an additional 2,500 sq km buffer zone, awaits its feline tenants with open grasslands and abundant prey.

Speaking to Indian Masterminds, DFO Mandasaur, Sanjay Raykhere, shared about the preparations going on in the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

A NEW HOME

The new sanctuary, located around 270 km from Kuno, boasts a secure wired fence and an abundance of prey, including chital, creating an ideal hunting ground for the reintroduced cheetahs.

“We are all set to receive the cheetahs,” confirms Sanjay Raykhere. The preparations are meticulous, guided by the Cheetah Steering Committee and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Six quarantine enclosures, or “Bomas,” stand ready to house 6-8 cheetahs upon arrival. The external fence securing the sanctuary is complete, and the Bomas will be fully operational by the month’s end. The final call on the release date rests with the government.

Quarantine Enclosure

Efforts are in full swing to ensure a smooth transition for the new arrivals. The external fence is complete, and the quarantine enclosures are on track for completion this month.

Mr. Raykhere further informed that the government will determine the final release date after careful evaluation.

WHY GANDHI SAGAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY?

But why Gandhi Sagar? The answer lies in its carefully chosen terrain. Expert committees identified both Kuno National Park (KNP) and Gandhi Sagar as ideal locations for cheetah reintroduction. While KNP offers a more forested environment, Gandhi Sagar boasts a vast expanse of open grasslands, resembling the African savannas – the cheetah’s natural habitat. This open terrain provides ample hunting opportunities for the cheetahs, with prey like chital (spotted deer) readily available in large numbers within the sanctuary.

DELEGATIONS ASSESSMENT

But the journey doesn’t end there. The South African delegation will assess ground-level preparedness, to ensure adherence to international guidelines. Before welcoming the Cheetahs, the officials will promptly address any identified gaps.

Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary Landscape

CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION PROJECT

In 1952, authorities declared the cheetah, renowned as the fastest land animal, extinct within the country’s borders. The government has embarked on an ambitious plan to revive the cheetah population in India, which includes relocating cheetahs from Africa.

As part of the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, authorities released eight Namibian cheetahs – consisting of five females and three males – into designated enclosures at the KNP on September 17, 2022. In February 2023, they transported an additional 12 cheetahs to the park from South Africa as part of the ongoing effort.

The upcoming release of cheetahs at Gandhi Sagar marks a significant step forward in India’s wildlife conservation efforts. This ambitious project holds the promise of re-establishing a vital predator in its historical range, restoring ecological balance, and boosting tourism in the region. As preparations reach their final stages, anticipation builds for the moment these majestic creatures grace the grasslands of their new home.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
8th pay commission
Big Breaking! 8th Pay Commission May Merge DA With Basic Pay: A Historic Salary Reform Set to Reshape Government Pay Structure
ONGC_resized
ONGC Launches 2025 Apprenticeship Program with 2,623 Vacancies — Empowering India’s Youth for Energy Sector Careers
PNB-resized
PNB Unlocks Rs 1,007 Crore by Selling 10% Stake in Canara HSBC Life Ahead of IPO — Strategic Move to Strengthen Core Operations
ONGC_resized
India’s State-Run Oil Giants Invest Rs 46,600 Crore in Five Months — ONGC and IOC Lead Push for Energy Infrastructure Growth
CIL & IIT Madras Tie Up
Coal India and IIT Madras Join Forces to Launch ‘Centre for Sustainable Energy’ — A Major Step Toward India’s Net-Zero Future
Rajasthan-Police
Rajasthan: 34 IPS Senior Officers Transferred in Major Reshuffle; New DG Post Created in SOG-ATS, Sachin Mittal Made New Police Commissioner of Jaipur
IRTS logo
Senior IRTS Officer Ranjan Prakash Thakur Prematurely Repatriated from ONGC to Parent Cadre for Promotion
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-21 at 16.46
How IPS Alok Raj Narayan is Changing Policing in Uttar Pradesh
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT