Project Cheetah and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary

• 16 Sep 2025

Source: IE

Why in News?

Madhya Pradesh plans to introduce a female cheetah to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, aiming to establish it as a second home for cheetahs after Kuno National Park, as a part of Project Cheetah.

What is Project Cheetah?

• About: India launched Project Cheetah in 2022 to reintroduce cheetahs, extinct in the country for over 70 years. 
  • Operated under Project Tiger, Project Cheetah is the world’s first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation project and implements the Cheetah Action Plan. 
• Objective: Establish breeding populations of cheetahs in safe habitats across historical range.
  • Use cheetahs as a flagship species to restore open forests and savanna ecosystems.
  • Promote eco-development and ecotourism to improve local livelihoods.
  • Enhance community awareness and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
• Implementation and Governance: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, implements Project Cheetah in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
  • As a statutory body NTCA established the Cheetah Project Steering Committee in 2023 to supervise, evaluate, and advise on the project’s implementation.
• Achievements: 8 cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa were relocated to Kuno National Park, where they exhibited natural behaviors. 

  • The birth of Namibian cheetah cubs in India after 75 years is a significant milestone in the reintroduction effort.

  • Over 350 ‘Cheetah Mitras’ are involved to educate locals and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

What are the Key Facts about Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary?

• Location: Situated in northwestern Madhya Pradesh, bordering Rajasthan, within the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.
• Ecosystem: Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary features savanna, open grasslands, dry deciduous forests, and riverine areas. It is recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).
• Topography: Includes hills, plateaus, and the Gandhi Sagar Dam and the Chambal River (tributary of the Yamuna) bifurcates the sanctuary into two nearly equal parts.
• Flora: Dominated by Khair, Salai, Tendu, and other dry deciduous species.
• Fauna: Home to Chinkara, Nilgai, Indian Leopard, Hyena, and more.
• Historical Sites: The sanctuary includes sites like Chaurasigarh, Chaturbhuj Nala rock shelters, Bhadkaji rock paintings, and Hinglajgarh Fort.
• Ideal Habitat: The savanna ecosystem and abundant wildlife make it an ideal site for cheetah reintroduction, similar to Maasai Mara in Kenya (a national reserve in Kenya known for its savanna wilderness and wildlife).

Did you Know?

• Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are part of the felidae family and are among the oldest big cat species.
• They are the world’s fastest land mammals, found in parts of Africa and Asia.
• Male cheetahs live in coalitions or with siblings, while females are mostly solitary except when raising cubs.
• The gestation period is between 90 to 95 days.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. Consider the following: (2012)

1. Black-necked crane
2. Cheetah
3. Flying squirrel
4. Snow leopard

Which of the above are naturally found in India?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (b)