Struggles and Solutions: The Battle for Cheetah Revival in Madhya Pradesh's Wildlife Sanctuaries

Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh face challenges in cheetah introduction due to high leopard populations and low prey density. Efforts are ongoing to manage these issues, including leopard translocation and prey augmentation. Experts emphasize sustainable, long-term solutions are needed for successful cheetah conservation.

Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh are grappling with significant challenges in their bid to reintroduce cheetahs. The high population of leopards and a low base of prey are among the chief obstacles, leading to delays in preparations at Gandhi Sagar.

Records from the Centre's Cheetah Project Steering Committee indicate that prey augmentation and leopard management have been pressing issues since cheetahs were reintroduced to India in September 2022. These challenges have necessitated measures like increasing prey populations and relocating leopards.

Experts stress the importance of in-situ prey build-up and caution against indefinite reliance on prey translocation. Despite ongoing efforts, the area's readiness remains questionable, with substantial work still needed to secure a sustainable environment for the cheetahs.

(With inputs from agencies.)