IN A landmark event marking International Cheetah Day, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav released a female cheetah, Veera, along with her two cubs into the open forests of Kuno National Park, further strengthening the State’s pioneering cheetah reintroduction project. With this addition, the State’s cheetah population now stands at 32, including three cheetahs from Gandhisagar Sanctuary.

 

Kuno National Park has emerged as an international hub for cheetah conservation, now hosting the third generation of cheetahs born in the wild. The Chief Minister expressed pride over the thriving cheetah population in the State, noting that the five cubs of Mukhi, a female cheetah born in Kuno, are healthy. He highlighted that cheetahs from Kuno are now roaming across Shivpuri, Morena, and parts of Rajasthan, and described the big cats as “crown jewels of Madhya Pradesh’s rich forest heritage.”

 

Dr Yadav, during the celebrations at Kuno, emphasised the state government’s commitment to wildlife protection, announcing continuous monitoring through advanced radio-tracking systems and dedicated teams. On the occasion, he also released the 2026 calendar of Kuno National Park and the book titled “Field Manual for Clinical Management of Free-Ranging in Kuno National Park”, along with inaugurating a newly constructed souvenir shop within the park. Highlighting the broader impact, the Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh is the state of tigers, leopards, and cheetahs.

 

“For the first time globally, cheetah reintroduction has been successfully carried out here, thanks to the efforts of our forest department officials,” he added. The project has already boosted tourism in Shivpuri-Kuno fivefold and is generating employment opportunities for displaced local communities. Dr Yadav also praised local residents for learning to coexist with cheetahs in the clean and serene Chambal region, calling it “a true example of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world as one family.”

 

He extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Environment Bhupender Yadav for their support in implementing the cheetah project. The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including Rakesh Shukla, Minister for Renewable Energy, Dilip Singh Ahirwar, State Minister for Forests, former Forest Minister Ramniwas Rawat, officials of Sahariya Development Authority, district collectors, forest department staff, and local residents. Dr Yadav also interacted with women from Ahira village, promising the state’s support and earning their blessings.