Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav on Sunday released CCB-2, a female cheetah brought from Botswana, into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Neemuch district, taking the number of cheetahs in the sanctuary to four.
The sanctuary now has two male and two female cheetahs, raising hopes of further expansion of the cheetah population in the region. CM Dr Yadav congratulated the Forest Department and the people of Madhya Pradesh on the development and stressed the need to strengthen the state's ecosystem.
Female Cheetah released by MP CM Dr Yadav
‘An important and historic project for Asia’
Speaking to the media after releasing CCB-2, CM Dr Yadav said the Madhya Pradesh government was making continuous efforts towards cheetah conservation under the guidance of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.
He described the initiative as an important and historic project not only for Madhya Pradesh but also for Asia.
CM Dr Yadav recalled that cheetahs had once become extinct in Asia, while their presence had also disappeared from Madhya Pradesh. He said their return to the state's forests marked a significant conservation achievement.
‘A major achievement for Madhya Pradesh’
A still from the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Chief Minister said it was a matter of good fortune that cheetahs were once again roaming freely on the soil of Madhya Pradesh.
According to CM Dr Yadav, 56 cheetahs and their cubs are currently present in the state. He said the conservation effort reflected the state's philosophy of “live and let live” and represented an important achievement for the Forest Department.
CM Dr Yadav also lauded forest officials and employees for their role in the initiative, saying Madhya Pradesh had a rich history of forest and wildlife conservation. He said the return of cheetahs once again demonstrated the state's commitment to protecting its natural heritage and biodiversity.
Wildlife conservation brings change to local lives
CM Dr Yadav said he was pleased that Pavak and Prabhas, who were released last year, were healthy. He added that four new cheetahs had arrived in Madhya Pradesh two days earlier.
Describing the initiative as a project aimed at re-establishing the cheetah's life cycle in India after around 100 years, the Chief Minister said extinct species were now returning to the state's landscape.
He also pointed to the introduction of wild buffaloes from Assam as another example of the government's conservation efforts.
CM Dr Yadav said wildlife conservation had also contributed to employment and changed the lives of local residents. While villagers had initially harboured some apprehensions when the project began, he said the situation subsequently improved.
“Wildlife can thrive only with everyone's positive cooperation,” the Chief Minister said.