Cheetah Reintroduction in India

  • India lost its native Asiatic cheetah in the 1950s.
  • Under Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, India became the only country to successfully reintroduce cheetahs after extinction.
  • Nature of project:
    • World’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore
    • Implemented under the broader framework of Project Tiger
  • Action Plan: Based on the Cheetah Action Plan approved by the Government of India

Key Objectives

  • Establish self-sustaining breeding populations of cheetahs in suitable habitats
  • Restore and conserve open forest, grassland, and savanna ecosystems
  • Use cheetah as a flagship species for grassland conservation
  • Promote eco-development and eco-tourism
  • Enhance local livelihood opportunities
  • Reduce human–wildlife conflict through community participation

Implementing and Nodal Agencies

  • National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
    • Statutory body under MoEFCC
    • Overall supervision and policy oversight
  • Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
    • Scientific planning, habitat assessment, and monitoring
  • State Forest Departments
    • On-ground implementation (Madhya Pradesh is the lead state)
  • Cheetah Project Steering Committee (2023)
    • Set up by NTCA
    • Monitors progress, evaluates outcomes, and advises on course correction

Existing and Planned Cheetah Habitats

1. Kuno National Park (KNP)

  • Location: Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh
  • First cheetah introduction: September 2022
  • Current population: 28 cheetahs

2. Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

  • Location: Mandsaur district, Madhya Pradesh
  • Declared cheetah habitat: April 2025
  • Current population: 2 cheetahs

3. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (Proposed)

  • Location: Nauradehi region, Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh
  • Status: Approved for cheetah habitat development
  • Significance: Third cheetah habitat in the state

Conservation Significance

  • Biodiversity restoration through reintroduction of apex predators.
  • Ecosystem balance, especially in grassland and open forest habitats.
  • Strengthens India’s global conservation leadership.
  • Boosts eco-tourism and conservation awareness in central India.

Future Plans and International Cooperation

  • Eight cheetahs expected from Botswana in January 2026.
  • New cheetahs will primarily be introduced at Kuno National Park.
  • Project Cheetah involves collaboration with African nations, drawing on their expertise in:
    • Wildlife translocation
    • Health monitoring
    • Long-term cheetah management
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