Environment & Climate

MP to introduce cheetahs to Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

06 October 2026UPSCSSC

In Brief

Cheetahs will be introduced to tiger territory at Madhya Pradesh's Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve for the first time.

In a first-of-its-kind conservation move, cheetahs are set to roam in tiger territory at the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. This expansion marks a new phase in India's cheetah reintroduction program.

Currently, Madhya Pradesh houses 60 cheetahs, with 57 of them residing at Kuno National Park, where they were first translocated from African countries four years ago. The move introduces cheetahs to a new habitat outside of Kuno.

Source: Hindustan Times

#veerangana-durgavati-tiger-reserve#cheetah-translocation#kuno-national-park#wildlife-conservation#madhya-pradesh

Expert Study NotesMEDIUMGS3 — Environment & Climate; Biodiversity & Conservation

GS3 — Environment & Climate; Biodiversity & Conservation

📌 Exam Angle

A question can test India's cheetah reintroduction program, specifically the translocation of African cheetahs to Kuno National Park four years ago and the subsequent expansion to Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. The article provides factual details on cheetah population numbers in Madhya Pradesh and habitat management strategies across protected areas.

⚠️ Key Concerns

No specific implementation concern is stated in the supplied report.

💡 Why It Matters

This reintroduction initiative demonstrates India's active wildlife conservation efforts for an extinct domestic species, involving translocation of cheetahs across multiple tiger reserves. It reflects India's capacity to manage large carnivore populations across different ecosystems and represents an expansion of species reintroduction beyond the initial Kuno site.

🔑 Must Remember

• Madhya Pradesh currently houses 60 cheetahs; 57 are at Kuno National Park. • African cheetahs were first translocated to Kuno National Park four years ago. • Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve will now host cheetahs in tiger territory for the first time.

📝 Key Terms

Cheetah reintroductionKuno National ParkVeerangana Durgavati Tiger ReserveMadhya Pradeshwildlife translocationspecies conservationtiger reservehabitat expansion

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