Two Cheetahs Released at Madhya Pradesh’s Third Habitat

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released two cheetahs at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve on October 7, making it the state’s third cheetah habitat. The male, Vyom, and female, Neera, were transferred from Kuno National Park and placed in soft-release enclosures at the reserve in Sagar district. The release expands the state’s cheetah programme beyond Kuno and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Officials describe Veerangana Durgavati as the first tiger reserve in India to host African cheetahs under Project Cheetah. The reserve, also known as Nauradehi Tiger Reserve, spans about 2,339 square kilometres across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts. The cheetahs were placed in soft-release bomas within a specially prepared enclosure covering about 439 hectares. The animals are expected to remain in the protected area initially, according to reports on the arrangements. The transfer creates an opportunity to observe how introduced cheetahs use a landscape where tigers and leopards live. The reserve also has wolves, though the release does not establish that the cheetahs have encountered any of these animals.