Two South African cheetahs released in MP's Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

More to come from Botswana; wildlife activists oppose keeping 2 sub-species together

Two cheetahs were released into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh (MP) by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday. The cheetahs, six years old males named Pawak and Prabhash, had been brought from South Africa in February 2023 and were stationed at the Kuno National Park before being moved to the sanctuary.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Yadav said, “Releasing the cheetahs was a significant step. The Cheetah Project is an ambitious initiative by the state government aimed at increasing the population of cheetahs and conserving their species in the country.”

 

“After Kuno, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary has become the second place in not only the state but the country where cheetahs are being relocated. This is a historic moment for wildlife tourism as well,” the chief minister added.

 

Yadav further said that cheetahs were being brought to India not only from South Africa but also from Kenya and Botswana. The state government plans to bring eight more cheetahs from Botswana and Kenya by May.

 

Wildlife activists, though, oppose such plans. Activist Ajay Dubey told Business Standard: “According to the agreement with South Africa, 10 cheetahs were supposed to be sent annually for 10 years. But after that agreement failed, there is now talk of bringing cheetahs from Botswana.”

 

“The International Union for Conservation of Nature protocol clearly states that if wildlife is being reintroduced in a region, two sub-species should not be placed together in the same area. The government is violating this rule. South African and Botswana cheetahs are different sub-species. We will file a petition against this in court,” Dubey added.

 

The Kuno National Park currently houses 26 cheetahs. To accommodate cheetahs in the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, 8,900 hectares of land has been specially prepared. 

 

The Gandhi Sagar sanctuary hosts a significant number of spotted deer, Indian gazelles, and blue bulls, ensuring sufficient food for the cheetahs. The forest department has identified a special 16 kilometre area in the sanctuary where the cheetahs will be kept.