Veerangana Tiger Reserve to be 3rd Cheetah Habitat in MP | 15 Dec 2025
Why in News?
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve at Nauradehi in Sagar district would become a new home for cheetahs before the next monsoon.
Key Points
- Approval: The State Cabinet gave in-principle approval to develop Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve as Madhya Pradesh’s third cheetah habitat.
- Habitats: The first cheetah habitat was established at Kuno National Park, Sheopur, in September 2022, and the second at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, Mandsaur, in April 2025.
- Population: Kuno National Park currently houses 28 cheetahs, while Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary has two cheetahs, with scope for further expansion.
- Translocation: Eight more cheetahs are expected to be brought from Botswana to Kuno National Park in January 2026.
- Success: The Chief Minister stated that India, and Madhya Pradesh in particular, is the only place globally where cheetah rehabilitation has been successful.
- Wildlife: Addressing tiger deaths, he said such incidents occur due to rising numbers, while the government is working to minimise losses and facilitate wildlife migration and exchange.
- Diversification: The state government is also translocating other species, including rhinoceroses from Assam and king cobras from Bengaluru, and is developing snake parks, rescue centres and zoos to boost conservation and tourism.
Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve
- Heritage: Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, named after Veerangana Rani Durgavati, was established in 1997 and is known for its rich biodiversity.
- Biodiversity: Spread across about 550 square kilometres, the reserve is home to Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, deer species and diverse flora and fauna, attracting wildlife and nature enthusiasts.
- Location: The reserve is situated around 11 kilometres from Jabera on the Damoh–Jabalpur road, where wildlife sightings are common along the route.
