Although the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department was all set to inaugurate the Cheetah Safari in Kuno National Park on February 26, but the Supreme Court has put a ban saying that concerned authority require to seek the court’s permission before starting a zoo or safari on forest land. Earlier, it was planned to lay the foundation stone for safari by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. CM Yadav visited district Sheopur (Saisaipura area) on February 26, where he interacted with Cheetah Mitra and distribute cycles but did not lay foundation for the proposed safari. He also took a review meeting on Cheetah Project. District Forest Officer (DFO) R Thirukural confirmed the programme of CM and said that no foundation was laid by the CM for safari as the proposal has been put on hold. Officials said that all preparations were made to start the foundation stone of Cheetah Safari in Saiaipura. Even Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) had approved the proposal of setting up country’s first cheetah safari at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park.

 

This safari was proposed to boost tourism in the area and attract tourists’ footfall. Officials said that a research and modern museum will also set up in Kuno. This research centre will help to collect information of the species and also help to provide a suitable habitat to the cheetah in Kuno’s wild. The museum will help people to understand the history of cheetah in India. Officials said that this would attract tourists towards Kuno and also provide economic development to Saisaipura area. Director of KNP Uttam Kumar Sharma said, “150 hectares of land has been identified in Saisaipura for Cheetah Safari. Forest officials said that cheetahs who cannot survive in wild would be part of the safari.

 

These cheetahs can easily be sighted by the tourists. They said that instead of keeping such cheetahs behind the enclosure, they would be generating revenue with safari. Field Director Uttam Sharma informed that safari would also be set up as breeding centre to swell the cheetahs’ population. Mating of cheetahs in wild is a matter of concern. The issue of cheetahs mating in wild was earlier raised by wildlife experts. He said that apart from cheetah, Kuno has also wide range of animal and exotic plants. For tourism purpose, this place would be preferred by the tourists.