Madhya Pradesh Expands Wildlife Conservation with Cheetah Releases, New Reserves

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Madhya Pradesh Expands Wildlife Conservation with Cheetah Releases, New Reserves | AirNews

Madhya Pradesh is set to release two female cheetahs from Botswana into Kuno National Park on May 10–11, following an acclimatization period in soft-release enclosures, as part of its expanded wildlife conservation strategy. The move underscores a broader shift from symbolic, tiger-centric conservation to a system-level approach encompassing habitat corridors, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and multi-species recovery across landscapes.

The cheetah population under Project Cheetah has grown to 57, including four cubs born at Kuno in April 2026, the first wild litter from an Indian-born female. Nine cheetahs from Botswana were moved to soft-release bomas earlier in the year, with Gandhi Sagar and Nauradehi approved as additional cheetah habitats. Ratapani became the state’s eighth tiger reserve in December 2024, and Madhav National Park was declared the ninth in March 2025, accompanied by a 13-km safety wall to reduce human-animal conflict.

The state is implementing wildlife-friendly infrastructure, including underpasses and overpasses on NH-46’s Itarsi-Betul stretch, and strengthening corridors across Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, and Pench. A ₹47.11 crore elephant management plan was approved, enhancing surveillance, barriers, and rapid response, while compensation for human fatalities from wild animal attacks has increased from ₹8 lakh to ₹25 lakh.

Madhya Pradesh has also bolstered legal protections, notifying Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Wildlife Sanctuary in Sagar (258.64 sq km) in April 2025 as its 25th sanctuary, and proposing Tapti in Betul as its first conservation reserve. The Kerwa Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre, run with the Bombay Natural History Society, has successfully rehabilitated and tracked vultures, including a cinereous vulture that migrated toward Central Asia after release.

The state government said further habitat expansions and corridor projects are under review, with forest officials set to submit a comprehensive wildlife movement and conflict mitigation plan by June 2026.