Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh has expanded its cheetah conservation programme with the opening of its third cheetah habitat. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav released two cheetahs, Vyom and Neera, at the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district on October 7. Both cheetahs were brought from Kuno National Park.
The release took place during the concluding programme of Wildlife Conservation Week. With Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary already hosting cheetahs, Veerangana Durgavati has now become the state’s third cheetah habitat.
Durgavati Becomes a New Home for Cheetahs
The move expands Project Cheetah beyond Kuno and Gandhi Sagar and brings the animals to the Bundelkhand region. The reserve has suitable open forest and grassland areas, while preparations have also been made for the safety and monitoring of the animals.
The latest additions come as India’s cheetah population reached 60, following the birth of five cubs at Kuno National Park earlier this week.
CM Mohan Yadav said Madhya Pradesh has favourable conditions for cheetah conservation. He also said the state plans to bring two more cheetahs next month, which would further expand the population in the new habitat.
Wildlife Conservation With Local Benefits
The Chief Minister also linked wildlife conservation with the economic interests of people living around protected areas.
According to Yadav, wildlife tourism generated around ₹80 crore this year, of which about ₹20 crore was distributed among nearby villagers. He said local communities should receive a share of tourism income because they have lived around these forests and sanctuaries for generations.
The government is also promoting homestays in buffer zones. Residents living in suitable houses around tiger reserves can use them as homestays and receive government assistance of around ₹2–3 lakh, according to the Chief Minister.
Focus on Dairy and Rural Livelihoods
Yadav also spoke about expanding livelihood opportunities for communities living near forest areas.
He said the state is focusing on increasing milk production during the ongoing Kisan Kalyan Varsh. Milk produced by farmers will be purchased through cooperative societies, creating another source of income.
The Chief Minister noted that forest areas may have limited agricultural land but often have significant livestock populations. He said animal husbandry can therefore become an important livelihood activity for these communities.
MP’s Wider Wildlife Conservation Efforts
The Chief Minister highlighted Madhya Pradesh’s broader wildlife conservation record, pointing to its tiger population and growing efforts to protect other species.
He said the state has also worked on conservation and reintroduction efforts involving turtles in rivers, gharials in the Chambal and crocodiles in the Narmada.
He also released the Vulture Population Estimation Report 2026 during the event and released a book on Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve written in the Bundelkhandi language.
Madhya Pradesh has also emerged as an important centre of India’s Project Cheetah. The programme began in 2022 with the reintroduction of cheetahs at Kuno National Park. The creation of the Durgavati habitat now gives the animals another protected landscape within the state.
Cheetahs to Boost Tourism and the Ecosystem
The expansion is expected to support both wildlife conservation and tourism in the Bundelkhand region.
The reserve already has tigers, making it a unique landscape where different big-cat species will share the broader ecosystem. The government expects the presence of cheetahs to strengthen the local ecosystem while creating new opportunities linked to wildlife tourism.
Speaking to the media after the release, Yadav said Madhya Pradesh has become an important example of cheetah reintroduction after the species disappeared from India.
He said the new habitat would strengthen the ecosystem and support tourism development in the region.
PM Modi and Project Cheetah
Yadav also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for the launch of Project Cheetah in Madhya Pradesh in 2022. He said the project has now reached another important stage with the establishment of the state’s third cheetah habitat.
During his speech, Yadav also made political remarks about Prime Minister Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He described Modi as a “tiger” while criticising Gandhi and the Opposition.
These political comments came alongside the main focus of the programme — expanding wildlife conservation and creating a new habitat for India’s growing cheetah population.
A New Chapter for MP’s Wildlife Tourism
The arrival of Vyom and Neera marks a new phase in Madhya Pradesh’s wildlife conservation journey. With Kuno, Gandhi Sagar and now Veerangana Durgavati, the state has three locations supporting the national cheetah reintroduction programme.
The move also connects conservation with local livelihoods, tourism and rural economic opportunities. If the new habitat succeeds in supporting cheetahs and their future breeding, it could strengthen Madhya Pradesh’s position as a major destination for wildlife tourism and conservation in India.
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