Nauradehi Sanctuary to Become India’s Third Home for Cheetahs | 06 Nov 2025

Why in News?

The Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is being prepared as India’s third cheetah habitat, following Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar.

Key Points

• Nauradehi Sanctuary:
  • Located across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts.
  • It lies in the upper Vindhyan range, connecting the Ganga and Narmada river basins.
  • Acts as a biological corridor between Panna and Satpura, and indirectly links Bandhavgarh Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Project Cheetah:
  • Project Cheetah was launched in 2020 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to reintroduce cheetahs in India.
  • The programme aims to restore the extinct species (Acinonyx jubatus) and revive India’s grassland ecosystems.
  • Key Features:
    • Cheetahs sourced from Namibia and South Africa under intergovernmental MoUs.
    • Kuno National Park (2022) became the first reintroduction site, followed by Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary (2024).
    • Implemented jointly by NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.
    • Funded through CAMPA and central government allocations.