Cheetah Reintroduction in Kuno National Park: A Milestone for Biodiversity
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Kuno National Park | - Located in Madhya Pradesh, established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1981, declared a national park in 2018. |
| - Spread across Sheopur and Morena districts. | |
| - Habitat for cheetahs relocated from Namibia and South Africa. | |
| Cheetah Relocation | - Cheetah Reintroduction Project launched on 17th September 2022 to restore cheetah population in India, extinct since 1952. |
| - Implemented by NTCA, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India, and experts from Namibia and South Africa. | |
| Recent Event | - On 17th March 2025, a female cheetah and her four cubs were released in Kuno National Park. |
| - Total cheetahs in KNP now 26, including 14 cubs born in India. | |
| Importance | - Strengthens ecosystem, revives grassland ecosystem, benefits other species. |
| - Conserves biodiversity, establishes balance in the food chain. | |
| - Increases tourism, creates employment opportunities, boosts local economy. |