Female Cheetah to Move from Kuno to Gandhi Sagar on September 17

Quick Summary:

• A female cheetah, Dheera, will be moved from Kuno National Park, Sheopur district, to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in mandsaur district on September 17.
• Teh transfer aligns with the third anniversary of Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing cheetahs in India after their extinction in 1952.
• Two male cheetahs (Prabhas and Pawak) were shifted to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary earlier this year in April; the aim is to increase population at the sanctuary.
• this coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Madhya Pradesh on September 17 for his 75th birthday and for launching multiple development projects including india’s first PM MITRA Park.
• On wednesday prior, a sub-adult female cheetah born in India was found dead following a reported clash with a leopard inside Kuno National Park. Official inquiries are ongoing into the death.
• Current statistics from Kuno: 25 cheetahs (9 adults and 16 Indian-born), described as healthy overall.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

project Cheetah represents an ambitious effort to restore ecological balance by reviving an extinct predator species within India’s wildlife landscape. The planned movement of Dheera underscores efforts to strengthen populations across diverse habitats like Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary while diversifying options beyond central hubs such as Kuno National Park. However, challenges persist as evidenced by recent instances of mortality among Indian-born cheetahs due to territorial dynamics with other predators like leopards.

The timing of this transfer coinciding with important national events signals alignment between environmental initiatives and broader developmental milestones under government-led programmes-the PM MITRA textile park launch being one example.

Effective monitoring of living conditions within both sanctuaries remains vital not only for ensuring survival but also for evaluating long-term success against risks such as conflicts or disease outbreaks among wildlife populations introduced via translocation.

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