Cheetah Reintroduction in India

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Kuno is ready for cheetah reintroduction: Expert report 

Madhya Pradesh is in the ‘spot’light again. Experts from Wildlife Institute of India(WII) have concluded that cheetahs can be reintroduced at all the surveyed sites in Madhya Pradesh with appropriate ‘investments’ — some more than others — and management. 

Kuno National Park is “ready” for immediate reintroduction, with the least investment needed. It was also chosen for the Gir lion translocation earlier.Some sites have the potential to achieve the full range of objectives for the cheetah reintroduction project, says a technical note by the experts. Kuno and Gandhi Sagar-Chittorgarh-Bhainsrodgarh wildlife sanctuary (WLS) in Rajasthan, with parts of Mukundara tiger reserve landscape, adequately meet the criteria for introduction. The Gandhi Sagar-Bhainsrodgarh landscape requires concurrence by the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and investment in terms of prey supplementation and protection, it says. 

“Nauradehi wildlife sanctuary has very high potential, initially for housing a fenced population and later for becoming a free-ranging population as well. Investments required here are for fencing and prey restoration,” the report says.


The enclosure in Mukundara Tiger Reserve can be immediately used to bring cheetah into India and allow these animals to acclimatise prior to their release at other select sites. Also, Mukundara enclosure after extension can serve to hold a secure population of 3-4 cheetah breeding units and can be used to produce cheetah for enforcement of reintroduced populations Assessment of cheetah introduction sites and proposed actions,” it adds. With such investment, both sites could potentially hold cheetahs, the experts have noted.  



These sites are not considered as priority for achieving the holistic objectives of cheetah reintroduction, but would serve to restore both sites and achieve the objectives of biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism.



Based on the response from the two states, further action will be taken up by WII and NTCA for the reintroduction of cheetah in India. Permission for work on assessment of prey is being sought for Mukundara TR, Kuno NP and Nauradehi WLS from the Chief Wildlife Wardens of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Experts have suggested surveys in other places like Shahgarh bulge in Jaisalmer, Kaimur-Bagdhara complex and Guru Ghasidas national park. Permissions for the above are being sought from the authorities of Rajasthan, Bihar, MP, and Chhattisgarh.



The Team of experts include WII’s Y V Jhala (dean ), project associate Bipin C M, and project fellow Harshini Jhala. Those from MP were APCCF (wildlife) J S Chauhan, Madhav National Park 

DFO Y P Singh, Nauradehi sanctuary DFO Rakhi Nanda, DFO working plan-Raisen A Kumar, and Gandhi Sagar sanctuary DFO Sanjay Chauhan. Those from Rajasthan were Sangod MLA Bharat Singh, Mukundara Tiger Reserve CCF S Yadav and Kota DFO Alok Gupta. 




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