What began as an ambitious wildlife experiment in the forests of Madhya Pradesh is now evolving into one of India’s biggest conservation expansions. After successfully establishing cheetahs in the Kuno landscape, authorities are preparing to introduce the big cats into Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.
The move marks the next phase of India’s cheetah reintroduction programme aimed at creating a wider interconnected habitat for the world’s fastest land animal.
GUJARAT EMERGES AS NEXT CHEETAH DESTINATION
After Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat is set to become the second state to host cheetahs. Preparations are underway to introduce around 12 cheetahs in the Banni grasslands of Kutch over the next year after receiving approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Officials believe some cheetahs from Kuno National Park could be translocated to Gujarat, where the vast grasslands are considered ideal for the species.
Forest officials from Gujarat have already visited Kuno multiple times to study its management model, while Kuno authorities have also inspected the Banni landscape.
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CHEETAH CORRIDOR ACROSS INDIA
At present, around 53 cheetahs are roaming across the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar landscape, with one cheetah crossing into Rajasthan while the rest remain in Madhya Pradesh.
Officials say cheetahs have naturally moved across state boundaries before, strengthening hopes of creating a broader cheetah corridor in India.
Future relocation plans include the Sanjay Dubri region near the Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh border, Guru Ghasidas National Park and Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan’s Baran district.
Notably, Rajasthan last recorded a cheetah in 1949.
A 18,000-SQ-KM CHEETAH LANDSCAPE
Kuno Tiger Reserve Field Director Uttam Sharma said cheetahs historically occupied most parts of India except the Himalayan region, citing ancient rock paintings in Madhya Pradesh showing the species dating back nearly 6,000 years.
Officials are now working on developing the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar metapopulation landscape spanning nearly 18,000 square kilometres. Alongside Gandhi Sagar, Nauradehi and Madhav National Park are also being prepared as future cheetah habitats.
The expansion, experts believe, could redefine wildlife conservation in India while restoring a species once declared extinct in the country.
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