Gujarat nears landmark move with cheetah breeding centre in Kutch

Gujarat is on the verge of a major wildlife milestone as the process to establish a captive breeding centre for cheetahs in the Banni grasslands of Kutch has reached its final stage. A team is likely to visit Africa later this year to bring six pairs of cheetahs to the State.

Once the cheetahs are introduced, Gujarat will become the only State in India to host all four major big cat species — lion, leopard, tiger, and cheetah — marking a significant achievement in wildlife conservation. Sources revealed that the State Government is also working on a long-term plan to increase the tiger population to 10 within the next five years.

Currently, a lone male tiger has been roaming parts of Gujarat for over 14 months, with sightings reported in Chhota Udepur, Dahod district’s Ratanmahal, and Devgadh Baria regions. There are no female tigers in the state at present, but authorities plan to introduce them in the coming months to support population growth.

The Forest Department aims to bring up to 50 cheetahs to the Banni grasslands over the next three years. A 660-hectare enclosure has already been prepared in the region, with long-term plans to release the animals into the wild.

To support the habitat and ensure adequate prey availability, officials are also planning to establish four additional herbivore breeding centres along the proposed wildlife corridor, supplementing existing facilities. The initiative reflects Gujarat’s expanding focus on biodiversity conservation and its ambition to create a sustainable ecosystem for large carnivores.