Cheetah Relocation from Kuno to Gandhi Sagar Approved by NTCA Committee
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Committee Involved | Cheetah Project Steering Committee under National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), formed in May 2023. |
| Relocation Decision | Cheetahs to be moved from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, located ~300 km apart. |
| Project Cheetah | Launched in 2022. Translocation of 8 cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa. 8 adults and 5 cubs have died at Kuno. |
| Meta-population Aim | Target: 60-70 cheetahs across Kuno-Gandhi Sagar region (parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh). |
| Initial Release Plan | 4 to 5 cheetahs to be released into a 64 sq. km fenced zone in western Gandhi Sagar. Leopards removed to prevent conflict. |
| Prey Base Concerns | Introducing chital from other MP forests. Existing prey: chinkara, chousingha, nilgai, and chital. Herbivore enclosures built. |
| Concerns Raised | Inadequate staff training, emphasis on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training cheetah mitras, and water supply in summer. |
| Pending Decisions | Whether to shift cheetahs already in the wild (17) or those in enclosures (9) at Kuno. |