Event Overview
- Two male cheetahs, Prabhas and Pawak, were relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (GSWS), Madhya Pradesh.
- Both are six-year-old males, part of the February 2023 batch from South Africa under Project Cheetah.
Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)
Significance of the Gandhi Sagar Relocation
- GSWS becomes the second cheetah reintroduction site in Madhya Pradesh, after Kuno National Park.
- A 64-sq. km enclosure has been prepared, located between Mandsaur and Neemuch districts.
- The Chambal River bisects the sanctuary, influencing habitat dynamics.
Project Cheetah: Objectives & Milestones
- First translocation: 8 cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022 to Kuno.
- Second translocation: 12 cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023.
- Objective: Reintroduce the extinct Asiatic cheetah in India, improve biodiversity, and develop eco-tourism.
Reintroduction Strategy
- Cheetahs are being moved to additional locations to:
- Reduce pressure on Kuno National Park.
- Avoid territorial conflict and overcrowding.
- Expand the geographic gene pool and increase survival chances.
- Four more cheetahs from Botswana expected in May 2025, and four more later in Phase II.
Success Indicators
- MP Governments claimed that Kuno had the highest number of cheetah births globally post-translocation.
- Encouraging sign that adaptation and breeding are possible in Indian conditions.
- Increased prey base at GSWS over the last year supports sustainability.
Operational Details
- A 20-member team led by Kuno’s CCF Uttam Kumar Sharma managed the relocation by road (~250 km).
- Kuno now houses 24 cheetahs:
- 14 in the wild,
- 10 in enclosures.
- Gandhi Sagar staff trained at Kuno will now manage the relocated cheetahs after a 7-day handover phase.
Ecological and Governance Implications
- Project Cheetah is a flagship intercontinental conservation program.
- Promotes habitat development, prey augmentation, and wildlife management.
- Indicates state-level leadership and commitment to long-term wildlife conservation goals.
