Madhya Pradesh is set to take another significant step in expanding the habitat and population of cheetahs under Project Cheetah, with female cheetah CCB-2 being shifted from Kuno National Park to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Brought to India from Botswana, CCB-2 will be relocated as part of efforts to strengthen cheetah conservation and expand their natural habitat across Madhya Pradesh. State Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav is scheduled to release CCB-2 into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary on September 20.

CCB-2 arrived in India in February

CCB-2 was born in Ghanzi, Botswana, and arrived in India on February 28 this year at around two-and-a-half years of age. She was subsequently brought to Kuno National Park, where she underwent a mandatory quarantine period.

After completing quarantine, the female cheetah was released into the open forest in May. Since then, she has adapted rapidly to the conditions in her new environment, according to the information provided by the state government.

Her relocation to Gandhi Sagar marks another stage in Madhya Pradesh's efforts to establish multiple suitable habitats for the country's growing cheetah population.

Gandhi Sagar to have four cheetahs

Following the arrival of CCB-2, the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary will have four cheetahs — two males and two females.

CCB-2 will join the cheetahs already present in the sanctuary, further strengthening the population at the site. Her presence is expected to contribute to the expansion of the cheetah population and support the development of long-term cheetah metapopulations across different landscapes.

The move is part of the broader vision of Project Cheetah, which seeks to establish viable and sustainable cheetah populations in multiple habitats.

Long-term target of 60-70 cheetahs

According to the central government's official Project Cheetah framework, the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar landscape has a long-term target of developing a metapopulation of 60-70 cheetahs.

The relocation of CCB-2 is being viewed as an important step towards achieving that objective. By expanding the cheetahs' presence beyond Kuno National Park, authorities are seeking to create additional habitats and strengthen the species' long-term conservation prospects.

With CCB-2 now set to make Gandhi Sagar her new home, Madhya Pradesh's cheetah conservation programme is entering another important phase, as efforts continue to establish a wider and more sustainable landscape for the world's fastest land animal.