Nauradehi to become Madhya Pradesh’s 3rd cheetah habitat before next monsoon: CM Shivraj

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced that the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve at Nauradehi in Sagar district will soon become the state’s third cheetah habitat , following the successful reintroduction of the big cats from Africa .

Cheetahs were once native to India but were declared extinct in the wild in 1952 due to hunting and habitat loss. Their disappearance affected the ecological balance, particularly in grasslands. In a landmark move, India recently reintroduced cheetahs under Project Cheetah , bringing African cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa to Madhya Pradesh, making it the first state in the country to successfully restore this species.

The first habitat was established at Kuno National Park in Sheopur in September 2022, followed by the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur in April 2025. Kuno currently houses 28 cheetahs, while Gandhi Sagar has two. An additional eight cheetahs are expected to arrive from Botswana in January 2026.

With the recent cabinet approval, Nauradehi is set to become the third habitat in the state. “We are building three large cheetah reserves. Nauradehi has just been approved, and we are preparing an enclosure there. This will become a new home for cheetahs before next year’s monsoon,” Yadav said.

The reintroduction of cheetahs in India is a historic step in wildlife conservation. Earlier attempts to bring cheetahs back in other states, including Rajasthan and Gujarat , were unsuccessful due to legal, ecological, and logistical challenges. Cheetahs are highly sensitive to habitat conditions and competition from other predators, making careful planning essential.

Madhya Pradesh’s approach, scientifically selecting sites, ensuring sufficient prey, low human disturbance, phased translocations, and ongoing monitoring, has contributed to the program’s success. The development of Nauradehi as a new reserve will expand safe spaces for cheetahs, support biodiversity, and promote eco-tourism while helping restore ecological balance in the state’s grasslands.

With multiple strongholds now in place, Madhya Pradesh is poised to become a global example of successful species restoration and conservation .