Madhya Pradesh: Five More Cheetahs to Be Released into Kuno's Wilderness
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Synopsis
Five cheetahs, including a mother and her cubs, will be released into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, enhancing wildlife conservation efforts and boosting local tourism. This initiative is part of India's Project Cheetah aimed at reviving the species after its extinction in the country.
Key Takeaways
- Five cheetahs to be released in Kuno National Park.
- Includes Gamini and her cubs.
- Initiative boosts tourism.
- Part of Project Cheetah.
- Third release of cheetahs at KNP.
Bhopal, March 17 (NationPress) On Monday, five more members of the majestic cheetah family will be set free in the wilderness of Kuno National Park (KNP) located in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh.
The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, announced via his X handle that a female cheetah named Gamini, who was brought from South Africa, will be released into the wild of KNP.
Alongside Gamini, her two male and two female cubs will also be released, marking a significant achievement in the conservation efforts within the park's Khajuri tourism zone.
The Chief Minister emphasized that this unique opportunity to observe cheetahs flourishing in their natural environment during safaris is anticipated to draw more tourists and greatly enhance local tourism.
Dr. Yadav reiterated the state's dedication to elevating wildlife conservation and tourism initiatives.
Earlier this year, in February, four cheetahs, including a mother and her three cubs, were released into the wild at Kuno after spending a year in captivity.
This release occurred during a special event organized by the state Forest Department, which the Chief Minister also attended.
Kuno officials stated that the preparations for releasing the cheetahs into their natural habitat were carefully overseen by a steering committee and senior forest specialists.
This release marks the third instance of cheetahs being released into an open boma (enclosure) at KNP. Notably, a five-year-old female cheetah named Veera recently gave birth to two healthy cubs.
With this latest addition, a total of seven out of twelve adult cheetahs at KNP will now inhabit the park freely.
Previously, in December 2024, two male cheetahs, Vayu and Agni, were successfully released into the wild.
The Chief Minister pointed out the beneficial ripple effect of these initiatives, observing that the increasing cheetah population is boosting tourism and generating new job opportunities in the state.
"As the cheetah population grows, Madhya Pradesh is experiencing a rise in tourism, which opens up new avenues for livelihoods. We are committed to wildlife conservation, promotion, and restoration," Dr. Yadav stated.
India’s ambitious ‘Project Cheetah’ was initiated after cheetahs had been extinct in the country for 70 years.
On September 17, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the project by releasing the first group of eight cheetahs from Namibia into KNP.
The second batch of twelve cheetahs was brought in February 2023 from South Africa.
Although plans for a third group of 18 cheetahs are set to arrive from South Africa in February 2025, potential delays are anticipated as authorities await progress reports. The new group is expected to be relocated to both Kuno National Park in Sheopur and Gandhi Sagar in Mandsaur.
These initiatives reflect India’s unwavering commitment to reviving the cheetah population and enhancing wildlife conservation.
