Context:

• The Government of Madhya Pradesh has announced that the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, located within the Virangana Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve, will be developed as the third permanent habitat site for cheetahs in India.

Key Points:

• This step is part of ‘Project Cheetah’, launched in 2022, which aims to reintroduce cheetahs brought from Africa into the Indian subcontinent.
• This initiative, which strengthens wildlife conservation and boosts tourism and the local economy, has earned Madhya Pradesh recognition as the ‘Cheetah State’ of India.
• Developing Nauradehi as the third habitat aims to prevent the concentration of the cheetah population in a single location (Kuno).
• This will help increase the cheetah population and ensure the creation of a healthy metapopulation, supporting long-term conservation of cheetahs in India.

‘Project Cheetah’

• It is a historic project of the Government of India aimed at restoring the population of cheetahs in India, which were declared extinct in the country in 1952.
• Launch: September 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 8 cheetahs brought from Namibia into Kuno National Park.
• Location: Primarily based in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
• Source of Cheetahs: Namibia and South Africa.
• Nodal Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• First Site: Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.
• After their reintroduction, India became the only country in the world to host all five big cats — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Cheetah.
• In the initial phase, 20 cheetahs (8 from Namibia and 12 from South Africa) were brought to India.

Expansion of the Cheetah Project :

Under Project Cheetah, three major cheetah habitats are being developed in Madhya Pradesh. Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary has been declared the third important site.

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary

• State: Madhya Pradesh
• Districts Covered: Damoh, Sagar, Narsinghpur, and Raisen
• Area: About 1,197 sq km
• Established: 1975

Natural Features:

• Located between the Vindhya mountain range and the Narmada river basin.
• Major River: Sher River (part of the Ganga–Narmada watershed area).
• Topography: Mixed forests, grasslands, and scrublands.

Fauna:

• Major Species: Chital, Nilgai, Bear, Fox, Jackal, Leopard, and Wild Cat.
• Predator Species: Leopard and Sloth Bear are the top predators here.
• Avifauna: Peacocks, Partridges, Owls, and various waterfowls.

Flora:

• Dominant Trees: Teak, Saja, Sal, Mahua, Ber, Bel, Khair, etc.
• Classified as Dry Deciduous Forests.

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

Scientific Name: Acinonyx jubatus

African Cheetah:

• Habitat: Found mainly in the African savannah grasslands.
• Stronghold: Southern Africa.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable.

Asiatic Cheetah:

• Appearance: Pale yellow coat.
• Habitat: Islamic Republic of Iran.
• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):

• A statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Established: 1973.
• Main Objective: To stop the declining population of tigers in India and promote their conservation and recovery.