New Delhi
From five to eight cheetahs will be released into a fenced area at the Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh in the second half of this year, focusing on breeding and favourable weather conditions. A South African delegation visited India to assess preparations at Gandhisagar and review the progress of Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park.
Officials from South Africa visited key facilities at Gandhisagar and met with Indian officials in New Delhi to discuss the project and strengthen cooperation between the two countries. A 64sqkm enclosure at Gandhisagar is being readied for the cheetahs’ release, with a focus on ecological restoration and prey recovery.
The long-term goal is to establish a metapopulation of cheetahs in the Kuno-Gandhisagar landscape, with around 60-70 individuals after restoration and scientific management. This plan aligns with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines for reintroductions and conservation translocations.
Project Cheetah aims to reintroduce cheetahs to India after their extinction following independence. The first batch of cheetahs arrived in September 2022, followed by a second batch in February 2023. Despite some setbacks due to cheetah deaths, the project has seen success with the birth of 12 cubs this year, suggesting a positive trajectory.
