Nauradehi Sanctuary to Become 3rd Home for Cheetahs
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister announced that Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary will become the third home for cheetahs in the state after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
About Nauradehi Sanctuary to Become 3rd Home for Cheetahs:
- What it is?
- Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is one of India’s largest sanctuaries, spread over 1,197 sq. km, and serves as a crucial wildlife corridor in the upper Vindhyan range of Madhya Pradesh.
- Located in:
- The sanctuary lies across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh, situated between the Yamuna and Narmada River basins.
- Major rivers like Bamner, Kopra, and Bearma flow through it.
- History and Ecology:
- Declared a sanctuary to conserve central Indian fauna, Nauradehi has mixed deciduous forests, Vindhyan sandstone formations, and diverse soil types (red, black, and alluvial).
- It supports over 250 animal species, including tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, chinkara, sambhar, and blackbuck, along with 170+ bird species such as storks, vultures, and pheasants.
- Features:
- Altitude: 400–600 metres above sea level.
- Rainfall: Around 1,200 mm annually.
- Rich in grasses, herbs, shrubs, and bamboo, making it ideal for herbivores and potential cheetah prey base.
- Cheetah Conservation in India:
- The Asiatic cheetah became extinct in India in 1952 due to hunting and habitat loss.
- The Government of India launched Project Cheetah, reintroducing African cheetahs from Namibia at Kuno National Park (2022) and later at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary (2024).
- Nauradehi will now serve as the third site, ensuring species expansion, genetic diversification, and ecosystem restoration in central India.