Two South African cheetahs were released into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh (MP) by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. He said, “king of speed’ will gallop in the open forest”. The cheetahs, six years old males named Pawak and Prabhash, had been brought from South Africa in February 2023 and were stationed at the Kuno National Park before being moved to the sanctuary. They will now sprint in their 64-sq. km enclosure at Gandhi Sagar that is spread between Mandsaur and Neemuch districts, with the Chambal River cutting the sanctuary into almost two equal halves.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Yadav said, “Releasing the cheetahs was a significant step. The Cheetah Project is an ambitious initiative by the state government aimed at increasing the population of cheetahs and conserving their species in the country.”
Shri. Yadav also said that it was a matter of great pleasure to see the cheetahs, that had gone extinct from the Asian continent, are gaining speed again and increasing their population in Madhya Pradesh. “The land of Madhya Pradesh with the spirit of ‘jeev charachar jantu samaana’ is amazing; which is the ideal shelter for wildlife and the courtyard of the frolic of many endangered wild animals. We are committed to preserving wildlife and biodiversity for the coming generations and will continue to make the holy land of Madhya Pradesh proud with such innovations in the future too,” he added.
In February Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on released five cheetahs, including female Veera who gave birth to two cubs, into the wild from their enclosures at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district. The other cheetahs set free include female Asha and her three cubs. Two cheetahs — Agni and Vayu — already roam freely in the forest since they were released on December, on the occasion of International Cheetah Day.
“After Kuno, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary has become the second place in not only the state but the country where cheetahs are being relocated. This is a historic moment for wildlife tourism as well,” the chief minister added.
