AFTER Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, now Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve has become another address for Cheetahs in the State. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has released two cheetahs from Kuno into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve on Wednesday in Sagar district. A male cheetah named Tholo and a female named CCB-3 were shifted from Kuno National Park to Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. Keeping expansion of the cheetah conservation project in mind, authorities have made special preparations across around 439 hectares of the reserve to ensure the safety and adaptation of the cheetahs. The Forest Department has arranged for the cheetahs’ safety, regular monitoring, and healthcare. Additionally, a safe and suitable ecosystem has been developed to support other wildlife species in the area. While Kuno park is in Sheopur district and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is in Mandsaur district, the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, also known as Nauradehi Tiger Reserve, covers about 2,339 square kilometres across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts.

 

For new guests 439-hectare secure soft-release enclosure (boma) designed for the safe adaptation and monitoring of the big cats have been prepared. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary currently hosts South African-origin male cheetahs Prabhas and Pavak, as well as females Dheera and Radha. Radha was brought from Botswana and released there in September 2026. The reserve supports a diverse range of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, chital, sambar, nilgai, and bears. It is also a significant site for conserving endangered Indian vulture species. On this occasion, Chief Minister Dr Yadav said that the introduction of cheetahs to the reserve is expected to boost wildlife tourism in Sagar and the broader Bundelkhand region. It aims to create employment opportunities and strengthen the local economy by attracting tourists from across the country. Three days ago five cubs were born in Kuno National Park and the total cheetah population in India has risen to 60. Project Cheetah is the world’s first intercontinental translocation project for a large wild carnivore, launched by the Government of India to reintroduce cheetahs after their official extinction in the country in 1952. It was launched by PM Narendra Modi in the year 2022