Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is set to visit Kuno National Park in Sheopur on 11 May 2025 to release two female cheetahs — originally brought from Botswana — from their protective enclosures into open wilderness. The move marks a landmark moment for India's Cheetah Reintroduction Project, with the state's cheetah population now reportedly standing at 57.

Key Developments at Kuno

The two female cheetahs being released were part of the cohort translocated from Botswana under the international reintroduction programme. Their transition from enclosed habitat to free-ranging wilderness is considered a critical test of the project's long-term viability. According to officials, the cheetahs have cleared the necessary health and behavioural assessments required before open-range release.

This comes amid growing momentum in Madhya Pradesh's broader wildlife conservation agenda, with the state now home to 57 cheetahs — a figure that underscores the project's recovery trajectory since the first cohort arrived from Namibia in September 2022.

From Tiger State to Biodiversity Hub

Under Chief Minister Yadav's tenure, Madhya Pradesh has been repositioning itself beyond its long-standing identity as India's Tiger State. The state recently declared Ratapani as a new tiger reserve, named after noted archaeologist Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar. In March 2025, Madhav Tiger Reserve was designated the state's ninth tiger reserve, where a 13 km protective wall is currently under construction to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

Notably, Madhya Pradesh has also emerged as a national leader in vulture conservation, with a population exceeding 14,000 birds. A dedicated rescue centre in Bhopal drew international attention after a tracked vulture was recorded travelling as far as Uzbekistan.

New Sanctuaries and Conservation Corridors

The state government is expanding its conservation footprint with the establishment of the Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Wildlife Sanctuary in Sagar, alongside new sanctuaries in Omkareshwar and Jahangarh. The Tapti region has been designated as the state's first Conservation Reserve, and ₹47 crore has been allocated for elephant conservation efforts.

Work is also progressing on a mega tiger corridor linking Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, and Pench — an initiative aimed at improving genetic diversity and territorial range for the tiger population. These efforts are also supporting conservation of rare species including gharials and wild buffaloes.

Economic and Tourism Impact

Experts suggest that Madhya Pradesh's conservation push is generating tangible economic dividends, boosting local employment and eco-tourism revenues across forest-adjacent communities. The state's model — balancing infrastructure development with habitat preservation — is being cited as a potential benchmark for wildlife management in densely populated countries.

With the 11 May release at Kuno set to be the latest headline moment, all eyes will be on how the two Botswana cheetahs adapt to free-range conditions in the weeks ahead.