Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released two cheetahs, Prabhas and Pavak, into the open enclosure at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur of the Malwa region. With their swift strides, April 20 (Sunday) marked a historic day for the land of Malwa. For the first time in India, cheetahs have been translocated and rehabilitated at the inter-state level. These two cheetahs were brought from Kuno National Park in Sheopur to the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav ceremonially released the cheetahs into the open enclosure.
The sanctuary has a sufficient population of chital, chinkara, and other small prey animals. As both six-year-old male cheetahs had already been hunting in the wild at Kuno, they were released directly into the open enclosure without a holding period.
Yadav stated that the Cheetah Project has been the most successful of its kind in the world, thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After their reintroduction, Kuno in Sheopur witnessed the highest number of cheetah births globally. "We welcome the cheetahs to the land of Malwa," he said.
The arrival of cheetahs will significantly enhance tourism prospects in the Mandsaur and Neemuch districts. Bordering areas of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will benefit from increased tourist activity. Local communities will see new employment opportunities and improved living standards. A rise in tourist footfall will also boost the region's economy. Madhya Pradesh has successfully established itself as a global model for cheetah rehabilitation in terms of wildlife conservation and ecosystem balance.
The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Deora, MP Sudhir Gupta, MLAs Anirudh Maru and Hardeep Singh Dung, former Union Minister Satyanarayan Jatiya, Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Ashok Varnwal, Divisional Commissioner Sanjay Gupta, and senior Forest Department officer Aseem Srivastava, along with a large number of citizens.
On the morning of shining Sunday, April 20, two male cheetahs-Prabhas and Pawak-were dispatched from Kuno National Park in Sheopur to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. A 20-member team, including CCF Uttam Kumar Sharma and Dr. Omkar Achal, accompanied the cheetahs and reached Gandhi Sagar. The team will stay at the sanctuary for seven days to train the local staff in cheetah care and monitoring techniques.
The cheetahs were transported in separate vehicles, travelling through Sheopur, Baran, Kota, and Jhalawar before arriving in Mandsaur. The vehicles and enclosures were fully sanitised at Kuno before departure.
A 37-kilometre fenced enclosure has been prepared at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary for the cheetahs. Emergency response vehicles and a medical team were also deployed to ensure safety during the transition.