Cheetah Project Steering Committee, constituted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), has approved relocation of some cheetahs from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district, Madhya Pradesh. This move is part of efforts under Project Cheetah to expand cheetah population and establish a sustainable metapopulation.
Key Highlights
Objective: Establish a metapopulation of 60–70 cheetahs across the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar landscape in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Enclosure Preparedness: GSW’s 6,400 ha area has been augmented with a robust prey base (chinkara, chousingha, nilgai, chital), reliable water sources, solar fencing, and surveillance infrastructure, Monitoring systems andHerbivore enclosures (for prey augmentation).
Relocation Logistics: Gandhi Sagar lies ≈300 km from Kuno. The committee recommended translocation by road with special measures to mitigate heat stress on the animals.
Metapopulation Goal: Aim to establish a metapopulation of 60–70 cheetahs across the Kuno–Gandhi Sagar landscape (spanning Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan).
First Phase Release: Plan to release 4–5 cheetahs into a 64 km² fenced area in GSW’s western sector; resident leopards have been shifted to avoid inter‑predator conflict.
Next Batch of Imports: Parallel talks with Kenya, South Africa, and Botswana continue for incoming cheetahs; meanwhile, decision pending on whether to use Kuno’s 17 wild vs. 9 enclosure individuals.
Prey Augmentation: In‑situ herbivore enclosures established; additional chital introductions are underway to bolster prey availability.
Project Cheetah
Launched: 2022
Objective: Reintroduce cheetahs into Indian wild after local extinction in 1952
Cheetahs Translocated So Far:
- 8 from Namibia
- 12 from South Africa
Deaths Reported: 8 adult cheetahs + 5 cubs
Site Preparedness:
- Kuno NP climate similar to Namibia & South Africa
- 400+ Cheetah Mitras trained from local villages for awareness and support
Partner Organization: Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), Namibia
Legal Approval: Supreme Court of India approved translocation in 2020
About Cheetahs
| Feature | Details |
| Top Speed | Up to 120 km/h; Fastest land animal |
| Acceleration | 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds |
| Communication | Do not roar; Use Chirps, barks, stutter-barks |
| Territory Marking | Urine sprays, cheek rubbing, scratch marks |
| Social Nature | Solitary- mark territory via urine sprays, cheek rubbing, and scratch marks. |
| Breeding Age (F/M) | 20–24 months (F), 24–30 months (M); Breed year‑round (peak in rainy season). |
| Gestation | 90–95 days |
| Litter Size | 3–5 cubs |
| Hunting Success Rate | 40–50% |
| Technique | Tripping prey using semi-retractable claws |
Extirpation in India: Last Asiatic cheetahs were recorded killed in 1947 by Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Koriya.
Conservation Status
IUCN Status:
- African Cheetah – Vulnerable
- Asiatic Cheetah – Critically Endangered
Wildlife Protection Act (India): Schedule II
CITES: Appendix I
African vs Asiatic Cheetah
| Category | African Cheetah | Asiatic Cheetah |
| Scientific Name | Acinonyx jubatus | Acinonyx jubatus venaticus |
| Distribution | Africa (NW, East, South) | Iran (Only ~12 left) |
| Body | Larger, robust | Slender, smaller |
| Fur | Golden-brown, dense | Buff/fawn, extra neck fur |
| IUCN Status | Vulnerable | Critically Endangered |