Context:
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the Veerangana Durgavati (Nauradehi) Tiger Reserve will become the third habitat for cheetahs in the State.
- This follows the successful translocation of cheetahs from Africa to Kuno National Park (KNP), marking a major milestone in India’s cheetah reintroduction programme.
Key Highlights:
Government Initiative / Policy Details:
- In-principle approval granted by the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet to develop Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve as a cheetah habitat.
- The initiative builds upon the outcomes of Project Cheetah, India’s flagship species reintroduction programme.
Location & Ecological Context:
- Veerangana Durgavati (Nauradehi) Tiger Reserve is located in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh.
- It will become the third cheetah habitat in MP, after:
- Kuno National Park
- Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
- The reserve covers an area of around 50 square kilometres, suitable for cheetah movement and prey base development.
Cheetah Reintroduction Programme:
- Cheetahs were translocated from Africa to Kuno National Park under international cooperation.
- The programme aims to restore cheetahs as a functional part of India’s grassland and savanna ecosystems.
Future Wildlife Translocation Plans:
- The State government is also working to translocate other wildlife species to strengthen biodiversity and ecosystem balance.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Extinction of cheetahs in India and degradation of grassland ecosystems.
- Causes:
- Habitat loss
- Overhunting in the colonial period
- Government Initiatives:
- Project Cheetah
- Development of multiple cheetah habitats in Madhya Pradesh
- Benefits:
- Restoration of ecological balance
- Strengthening grassland conservation
- Boost to eco-tourism
- Challenges:
- Prey availability
- Long-term monitoring and genetic diversity
- Impact:
- Madhya Pradesh emerging as India’s cheetah conservation hub
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Provisions:
- Cheetah declared extinct in India in 1952
- Reintroduced under Project Cheetah with African cheetahs
- Conceptual Clarity:
- Species reintroduction as a conservation tool
- Importance of meta-population management across multiple habitats
- Key Institutions:
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- Madhya Pradesh Forest Department
- Keywords:
- Grassland ecosystems
- Keystone species
- Wildlife corridors
- Way Forward:
- Strengthen habitat connectivity between cheetah reserves
- Scientific monitoring using radio-collaring
- Community participation and conflict mitigation
- Diversify habitats beyond a single reserve to reduce ecological risk
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS Paper III: Environment, biodiversity, wildlife conservation
- GS Paper II: Federal governance, Centre–State cooperation in conservation