Madhya Pradesh releases two cheetahs in Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve as third habitat

Madhya Pradesh has expanded its cheetah conservation footprint with the introduction of a third habitat in the state. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav oversaw the release of two cheetahs-a male named Vyom and a female named Neera-into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district on Wednesday. This move marks a strategic progression in the state's reintroduction programme. The Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve now joins Kuno National Park and the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary as official sites for cheetah habitation. The expansion suggests a shift from initial experimental containment toward a more distributed spatial model for the species within the state's geography. Parallel to the ecological expansion, the state government is implementing a financial model designed to mitigate the friction between wildlife conservation and local livelihoods. Chief Minister Yadav highlighted a revenue-sharing mechanism where a portion of the income generated from wildlife sanctuaries is distributed among surrounding village communities. Of the ₹80 crore collected from the state's sanctuaries this year, ₹20 crore has already been disbursed to local residents.

After Kuno National Park in Sheopur and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur, the tiger reserve in Bundelkhand will be the third cheetah habitat in MP

After Kuno National Park in Sheopur and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur, the tiger reserve in Bundelkhand will be the third cheetah habitat in MP

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday released two cheetahs in the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district, marking the expansion of the cheetah conservation project.After Kuno National Park in Sheopur district and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur, the tiger reserve in the Bundelkhand region will be the third cheetah habitat in MP.CM Yadav released cheetahs Vyom and Neera in Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (VDTR), an official said.“On the concluding day of Wildlife Conservation Week, a historic chapter in wildlife conservation was added to Sagar and Bundelkhand, with the CM releasing two cheetahs, brought from Kuno, into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, making it the third habitat for cheetahs,” an official said.Buffalo Express Arrives! Two Buffaloes Take Platform Stroll At Bhopal’s Rani Kamlapati Station, Make Platform DirtyThe VDTR, also known as the Nauradehi Tiger Reserve, is Madhya Pradesh’s largest tiger habitat, spanning about 2,339 square kilometres across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts.Established in 1997, the area was designated a tiger reserve on September 20, 2023, after being integrated with the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, officials said.The area is home to diverse wildlife species, including tigers, leopards, chital, sambar, nilgai, and bears, and is also important for conserving the endangered Indian vulture species, they said.Special arrangements have been made on approximately 439 hectares for the protection and adaptation of cheetahs. A secure habitat equipped with modern enclosures (bomas) and other facilities has been created.The Forest Department has ensured the safety, regular monitoring, and health care of the cheetahs. Additionally, a safe and conducive ecosystem has been developed for other wildlife in the area (VDTR), they said.According to the officials, the presence of cheetahs will boost wildlife tourism in Sagar and Bundelkhand, creating new employment opportunities and boosting the local economy. PTI MAS NSK NRBuffalo Express Arrives! Two Buffaloes Take Platform Stroll At Bhopal’s Rani Kamlapati Station, Make Platform Dirty