Nauradehi Sanctuary Cleared for Cheetah Reintroduction

• Madhya Pradesh has approved Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary as the state’s third cheetah site after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary . Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that cheetahs from Namibia will be released here under Project Cheetah , expanding India’s cheetah range and distributing the population across central India to reduce habitat pressure and risks.

Third Cheetah Site in Madhya Pradesh

• Nauradehi’s inclusion follows steady progress at Kuno and Gandhi Sagar. Officials aim to create a connected metapopulation across the Chambal–Vindhyan landscape , supporting both conservation and eco-tourism. The project is expected to strengthen local livelihoods through tourism and related services.

Translocation and Monitoring Plan

• The first batch of cheetahs will arrive from Namibia under the existing bilateral agreement. They will undergo a soft release in large acclimatisation enclosures before gradual free-range release. Each cheetah will be fitted with GPS collars for real-time tracking. The site will have round-the-clock monitoring , prey base enhancement , veterinary care , and conflict management teams to protect nearby villages.

Linked Conservation Measures

• Alongside the cheetah plan, six mugger crocodiles —four females and two males—were released into the Indira Sagar Dam backwaters, brought from Van Vihar, Bhopal . A gharial exchange with Assam is also underway to strengthen breeding and restore riverine balance, aligning aquatic conservation with carnivore reintroduction.

Omkareshwar Sanctuary Proposal

• The government is set to notify the 61,407-hectare (≈614 sq km) Omkareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary , spanning Khandwa and Dewas districts , to enhance Narmada basin protection. The site could later attain tiger reserve status. Complementary measures include habitat readiness, prey buildup, enclosure upgrades, and rapid-response units for human–wildlife safety.

Exam-Oriented Facts

• Third cheetah site: Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

• Existing sites: Kuno National Park, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

• Source population: Namibia

• Additional actions: Six crocodiles released at Indira Sagar; gharial exchange with Assam

• Project goal: Establish a central Indian cheetah metapopulation