Madhya Pradesh’s Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary will become the third home for cheetahs in the state after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
Cheetahs sourced from Namibia will be released in Nauradehi.
Nauradehi’s selection follows functional populations and ongoing management at Kuno and Gandhi Sagar.
This move will diversify habitats, reduce pressure on Kuno, and build a metapopulation across the Chambal–Vindhyan landscape.
Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is one of India’s largest sanctuaries, spread over 1,197 sq. km.
The sanctuary situated between the Yamuna and Narmada River basins and major rivers like Bamner, Kopra, and Bearma flow through it.
Asiatic cheetah became extinct in India in 1952 due to hunting and habitat loss.
Government of India launched Project Cheetah, reintroducing African cheetahs from Namibia at Kuno National Park (2022) and later at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary (2024).
Nauradehi will now serve as the third site, ensuring species expansion, genetic diversification, and ecosystem restoration in central India.