Adequate fodder and water are available for both carnivores, herbivores animals and birds in Kuno Sanctuary in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. Population of cheetals is very dense here. The area spread over about 345 square kilometers has about 20 thousand cheetals, which are easy preys for leopards and tigers. Along with cheetal, Sambar, Neelgai, Chausingha, Chinkara, wild boar, peacock and rabbits are also found in large number in the sanctuary.
To ensure that wild animals continue to get grass for grazing through the year in sufficient quantity, slips of grazing grass for various species have been developed in a nursery spread over 2 hectare area of translocated village Durredi. During last 3 years, vast meadows have been developed in the sanctuary. Seeds of naturally available wild varieties of pulses like Moong, Arhar, Barbati, Mooth etc. have been collected and planted in meadows so that herbivore animals continue to get adequate proteins.
For development of meadows at translocated villages over the years in the sanctuary, wells are being treated. Due to it, newer centres are becoming available for meadows. During inspection, herbivore animals were sighted in them in large number. Besides, multi-year varieties of grass like Chhoti Marble (Dicanthiam spp.), Doob (Cynodon datylon), lampa (Heteropogon contortus), Jarga (Chloris spp.) Guner (Themenda quadrivalvis) etc. have been brought from nearby areas and planted in vast grasslands.
Kuno forest division has main water sources of Kuno, Kwari, Param, Chhoti Param rivers, Basikunda nullah, Sikroniya nullah etc. After December, all these rivers and nullas are reduced to pools. Therefore, Forest Department has also developed artificial water sources. In all, there are 240 all-weather water sources (212 natural and 28 artificial) and 133 temporary water sources (45 natural and 88 artificial). In water-deficient areas, 3 big lakes including Kem Talai, Mari Talai and Khair Talai have been connected with Khari Kho nullah through 14 km long gravity pipeline. lakes have been deepened to store more water. Two to 3 metre deep digging has been done in the areas where water is not available after March-April. Ramps have also been constructed so that wild animals can reach water sources easily. In need, saucers are also filled with water through tankers.