Project Cheetah Marks Three Years: Female Relocated from Kuno to Gandhisagar

Fast summary:

• Female cheetah ‘Dheera’,aged 7.5 years, was released into the gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, on September 17, 2025.
• Dheera was relocated from Kuno National park as part of India’s ongoing Cheetah Project to reintroduce the species after its extinction in 1952.
• Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary now houses three cheetahs-two males (Prabhas and Pawak) and one female-all within a fenced enclosure spanning 64 sq. km.
• India’s total cheetah population has reached 27, including:

– 11 adults translocated from Africa (6 females and 5 males).
– 16 cubs born in India as the initiation of Project Cheetah in September 2022.

• The national Tiger conservation Authority (NTCA) highlighted these developments as milestones for conservation during project Cheetah’s third anniversary celebration.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Madhya Pradesh on his birthday (September 17), where he launched multiple infrastructure projects including India’s frist PM MITRA park.

Indian opinion Analysis:

The accomplished relocation of Dheera to Gandhi Sagar highlights optimistic progress under India’s aspiring Project Cheetah. Efforts ensuring biodiversity restoration signify early steps toward achieving an ecological balance by reintroducing this extinct predator species back into Indian landscapes. While promoting conservation goals like bolstering cheetah populations through habitat expansion represents a commendable milestone, challenges remain regarding long-term sustainability.

For instance, Gandhisagar’s fenced area raises critical questions about whether such enclosures provide adequate conditions for free-range growth across diverse terrains-a core aspect of establishing self-sustaining populations over time. Additionally, balancing human interference with wildlife adaptability will be key to scaling this project nationwide without compromising ecological equilibrium or inadvertently sparking conflicts near inhabited areas.

India’s continued commitment through strategic partnerships with African nations speaks volumes about international collaboration in reversing ecological damage caused by past extinctions-an effort deserving recognition beyond simple numerical outcomes.

Read more: The Hindu Article