Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve will become the new home for cheetahs in the state before the monsoon next year, following the successful translocation of the big cats from Africa to Kuno National Park.
The state cabinet has given in-principle approval to develop the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, located at Nauradehi in Sagar district, as the third habitat in the state for the world’s fastest animal. The first cheetah habitat was opened at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur in September 2022, and the second one at the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur in April this year.
Referring to the cheetah project, Mr Yadav said, India, and Madhya Pradesh within India, is the only place in the world where cheetah rehabilitation is successful.
KNP is home to 28 cheetahs, and the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary has two big cats. Eight cheetahs are expected to be brought to KNP from Botswana in January 2026. CM Yadav said his government is also working to translocate many other wildlife species to the state.
