Cheetah at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve: India's Third Cheetah Habitat as 'Vyom' and 'Neera' Released in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News

On October 7, 2026, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released two cheetahs — Vyom (male) and Neera (female) — into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (VDTR), making it India's third cheetah habitat under Project Cheetah. Both cheetahs were translocated from Kuno National Park in Sheopur district. Five soft-release bomas (enclosed pre-release enclosures) had been constructed in the Muhali range of VDTR over an area of approximately 439 hectares to facilitate acclimatisation.

Background

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) — the world's fastest land animal, capable of speeds up to 112 km/h — was declared extinct in India in 1952, when the last three individuals were shot in Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh. The Indian cheetah was a distinct subspecies (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, the Asiatic cheetah) that was once widespread across the Indian subcontinent. It was used in the Mughal court for coursing, most famously by Emperor Akbar who reportedly kept over 1,000 cheetahs.

Following seven decades of absence, the Government of India revived the cheetah in the country through Project Cheetah, the world's first trans-continental large carnivore translocation programme. The project brought African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) from Namibia and South Africa as the closest available genetic substitute for the extinct Asiatic subspecies.

Timeline of Project Cheetah

• 1952: Cheetah declared extinct in India.
• 2009: Supreme Court of India green-lights cheetah reintroduction after a PIL on wildlife conservation.
• 2020: Supreme Court gives final approval to bring African cheetahs to India.
• September 17, 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases the first batch of 8 cheetahs (from Namibia) at Kuno National Park — launch of Project Cheetah.
• February 2023: 12 more cheetahs arrive from South Africa.
• 2024–25: Cheetah population at Kuno stabilises; cubs born; some cheetah deaths due to disease and collar infections.
• 2025: Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary designated as India's second cheetah habitat.
• October 7, 2026: Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve becomes India's third cheetah habitat with release of Vyom and Neera.

Current Developments

As of October 2026, India's total cheetah population stands at approximately 60, following the birth of five cubs at Kuno National Park in October 2026. The release of Vyom and Neera at VDTR is part of a phased expansion strategy — two more cheetahs are scheduled to be brought to VDTR in November 2026.

The VDTR has been prepared with comprehensive monitoring infrastructure: radio-collar tracking, camera traps, 24×7 field monitoring teams, and veterinary support. The Muhali range selected for the soft release has been assessed to have adequate prey density (primarily chital/spotted deer, sambar, and nilgai).

Key Facts — Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (VDTR)

India's Three Cheetah Habitats (as of October 2026)

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 48-A (DPSP): The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Article 51-A(g) (Fundamental Duty): It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
• Seventh Schedule, List III (Concurrent List), Entry 17-B: Protection of wild animals and birds — on the Concurrent List, enabling both Parliament and State Legislatures to legislate.

Legal Framework

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: The foundational legislation for wildlife conservation in India; the cheetah is listed under Schedule I (highest protection). Translocation of Schedule I species requires Central Government approval.
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Enables the Central Government to take measures for environmental protection.
• Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (amended 2023): Regulates diversion of forest land, including for wildlife management activities.
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Governs access to biological resources and associated knowledge; relevant to sourcing cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa.
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): Regulates international trade in wildlife; both Namibia and South Africa obtained CITES permits for the cheetah export to India.

Institutional Framework

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): Nodal ministry; oversees Project Cheetah.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Statutory body under the Wildlife Protection Act; manages Project Tiger and is involved in Project Cheetah oversight for tiger reserve sites.
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun: Technical support agency; conducted habitat assessments for cheetah reintroduction.
• Madhya Pradesh Forest Department: State-level implementation at Kuno, Gandhi Sagar, and VDTR.
• Cheetah Conservation Fund (Namibia): International partner organisation for the translocation.

Environmental Dimensions

The cheetah's ecological role as an apex predator is critical for maintaining prey population balance and grassland ecosystem health. Cheetahs preferentially hunt medium-sized ungulates (chital, blackbuck, gazelle), and their presence helps regulate prey numbers, preventing overgrazing of grasslands. Healthy grassland ecosystems support high biodiversity — including ground-nesting birds, small mammals, and invertebrates — and also provide carbon sequestration services.

The reintroduction programme aligns with India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022), which targets protecting 30% of land and oceans by 2030 (the "30×30" target). Project Cheetah is also seen as contributing to the restoration of the semi-arid grassland ecosystem — one of the most threatened ecosystems in India.

Challenges

• High cheetah mortality: Of the initial 20 African cheetahs brought to India in 2022–23, several died due to kidney disease, radio-collar injuries, and septicaemia, raising concerns about veterinary protocols and habitat suitability.
• Subspecies mismatch: The extinct Asiatic cheetah (A. j. venaticus) and the reintroduced African cheetah (A. j. jubatus) are different subspecies; critics argue true genetic reintroduction is impossible.
• Habitat fragmentation: India's landscape is highly fragmented; maintaining connectivity between cheetah habitats requires corridor protection.
• Human-wildlife conflict: Cheetahs straying into agricultural areas or human settlements poses risk of conflict, livestock depredation, and potential cheetah persecution.
• Prey base adequacy: VDTR's prey density needs continued monitoring to ensure sustaining capacity for cheetahs.

Government Initiatives

• Project Cheetah (2022–ongoing): Trans-continental cheetah reintroduction from Namibia and South Africa.
• Project Tiger (1973): India's oldest species-specific conservation programme; tiger population has grown from 1,827 (2014) to over 3,600 (2023 census).
• Project Lion: Announced in Union Budget 2020 for conservation of the Asiatic lion in Gujarat (Gir).
• Project Elephant (1992): Conservation of Asian elephants and their habitats.
• National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) 2017–2031: Framework for wildlife conservation, including landscape-level management and climate change adaptation.

Way Forward

The Wildlife Institute of India's assessment recommends that at least 5–8 sites across India be developed as cheetah habitats for a self-sustaining meta-population of 35–40 individuals. The Supreme Court, in its orders on Project Cheetah, has directed the government to set up a high-level task force for monitoring the programme. Key recommendations include:

• Strengthening the veterinary protocol with international experts from the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
• Ensuring radio-collar designs are safe and minimise injury risk to animals.
• Developing community-based conservation incentives (eco-tourism, habitat stewardship payments) around cheetah sites to reduce conflict.
• Establishing grassland conservation as a distinct policy priority, separate from forest conservation.

Previous UPSC Questions

The 2016 UPSC Prelims asked about the legal protection of cheetahs under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Project Cheetah and Kuno National Park have been recurring themes in UPSC mains since 2022.

Possible Mains Questions

1. "Project Cheetah is the world's first inter-continental large carnivore reintroduction programme. Examine its significance, challenges, and the ecological and constitutional dimensions of wildlife reintroduction in India." (GS-III: Environment, Biodiversity)
2. "India's semi-arid grasslands are among the most neglected ecosystems in conservation policy. Discuss the ecological importance of grasslands and the role of apex predators like the cheetah in maintaining ecosystem balance." (GS-III: Environment)

Possible Prelims MCQs

1. Q. With reference to Project Cheetah, which of the following statements is correct?
   (a) Cheetahs were brought from Kenya and Tanzania under CITES permits.
   (b) The first batch of cheetahs was released at Kuno National Park in September 2022.
   (c) The Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) from Iran was directly reintroduced.
   (d) Kuno National Park is located in Rajasthan.
   Ans: (b) PM Modi released the first 8 cheetahs (from Namibia) at Kuno NP, Sheopur, MP, on September 17, 2022.
2. Q. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve is located in which state?
   (a) Rajasthan
   (b) Chhattisgarh
   (c) Uttarakhand
   (d) Madhya Pradesh
   Ans: (d) VDTR (also known as Nauradehi Tiger Reserve) spans Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.
3. Q. Which constitutional provision establishes the protection of wildlife as a Fundamental Duty of citizens?
   (a) Article 48-A
   (b) Article 51-A(g)
   (c) Article 21
   (d) Article 243-G
   Ans: (b) Article 51-A(g) (Fundamental Duties, 42nd Amendment 1976) directs citizens to protect the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.

Essay Dimensions

1. Rewilding and ecological restoration: lessons from Project Cheetah for India's conservation strategy.
2. The extinction crisis: India's wildlife conservation challenges in the Anthropocene.
3. Balancing development and biodiversity: grasslands as the forgotten frontier.
4. Species reintroduction — scientific, ethical, and policy dimensions.
5. Wildlife conservation as cooperative federalism: the Centre-State partnership in biodiversity governance.

Interview Questions

1. What is the difference between Asiatic and African cheetah subspecies? Why were African cheetahs used for India's reintroduction?
2. Name all three current cheetah habitats in India and their respective districts.
3. Which Schedule of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 provides the highest protection to wildlife species?
4. What was the Supreme Court's role in Project Cheetah's legal journey?
5. What is a "soft release boma" and why is it used in wildlife reintroduction programmes?

FAQ

Q: What is Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve and where is it located?

Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (VDTR), also known as Nauradehi Tiger Reserve, is the largest tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, spanning approximately 2,339 sq km across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts. It is named after the 16th-century Gond queen Durgavati.

Q: How many cheetah habitats does India now have?

As of October 2026, India has three cheetah habitats: (1) Kuno National Park, Sheopur; (2) Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mandsaur; and (3) Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, Sagar/Damoh/Narsinghpur — all in Madhya Pradesh.

Q: When were cheetahs declared extinct in India?

The cheetah was officially declared extinct in India in 1952, when the last three individuals were shot in Koriya district (present-day Chhattisgarh).

Q: Which legislation governs cheetah protection in India?

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — the cheetah is listed under Schedule I, providing the highest level of legal protection. Translocation and reintroduction require Central Government approval under this Act.

Further Reading

• MoEFCC — Project Cheetah: moef.gov.in
• National Tiger Conservation Authority: ntca.gov.in
• Wildlife Institute of India: wii.gov.in
• DD News — Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve: ddnews.gov.in