Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav on Wednesday released two cheetahs, named ‘Vyom’ and ‘Neera’, into the Nauradehi Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar, marking a significant development in the state’s cheetah reintroduction programme.
The release took place during the concluding ceremony of ‘Wildlife Conservation Week’. CM Dr Yadav also released the Vulture Population Assessment 2026 report and launched a book on the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve written in the Bundelkhandi language.
The Chief Minister said Madhya Pradesh offered favourable conditions for the re-establishment of cheetah populations and announced that two more cheetahs would be released at the reserve next month.
MP CM Dr Mohan Yadav addressing the event
Local communities to benefit from wildlife tourism
Addressing the gathering, CM Dr Yadav stressed that wildlife conservation must go hand in hand with the welfare of communities living around protected areas.
He said local villagers were being given a share in tourism revenue generated by sanctuaries and protected areas. According to him, around ₹80 crore was collected from such areas this year, of which ₹20 crore was distributed among nearby villagers. CM Dr Yadav said the government had decided to extend these benefits to communities that had previously not received a share of the revenue.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the government’s homestay initiative. Residents living in buffer zones of tiger reserves can offer their homes as homestays and receive government grants of ₹2-3 lakh, he said.
He also urged residents in forest areas to explore dairy farming and animal husbandry, pointing out that such areas often have limited agricultural land but substantial livestock.
‘Madhya Pradesh is favourable for wildlife’
CM Dr Yadav during the release of the two cheetahs
CM Dr Yadav said the cheetah reintroduction programme began in Madhya Pradesh in 2022 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance and that the state’s cheetah population had now reached 60.
He noted that the Nauradehi landscape was different from Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, where other animals had been separated from areas designated for cheetahs. Nauradehi, he said, already has tigers and would now also be home to cheetahs.
According to CM Dr Yadav, cheetahs had last been seen in the region around 170 years ago.
He also pointed to Madhya Pradesh’s wildlife conservation record, saying the state now had the country’s highest tiger population and the largest number of vultures. He cited the release of turtles in the Chambal and crocodiles in the Narmada as further examples of efforts to strengthen wildlife ecosystems.
First Cheetah released
CM Dr Yadav said the newly released cheetahs were expected to establish a breeding population. He added that cheetahs generally do not come into conflict with humans.
Political remarks draw attention
During his address, CM Dr Yadav also made political remarks targeting the Congress and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Referring to Gandhi as “Pappu”, he criticised the Opposition and said India was currently attracting global attention.
CM Dr Yadav also praised PM Modi, describing him as a “tiger” and saying his leadership had strengthened India’s standing internationally.
He referred to PM Modi’s recent interactions with world leaders and said India had moved from being dependent on others to a position where other countries could learn from it.
Cheetah population expected to boost tourism
MP CM Dr Yadav in a still from the event
Speaking to the media after the event, CM Dr Yadav said Nauradehi would become the third home for cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh. He said the population of cheetahs brought to India, which had initially stood at eight, had now increased to 60.
The Chief Minister said the growing cheetah population would strengthen the ecosystem and give a further boost to wildlife tourism in the state.
He also congratulated Vyom and Neera on their new habitat, saying Madhya Pradesh had emerged as an important example of restoring a species that had become extinct in Asia.