12 more cheetahs released into Kuno National Park in MP

The cheetahs were released in quarantine enclosures in Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and union forest minister Bhupendra Singh Yadav

Published on: Feb 18, 2023, 15:14:26 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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Twelve cheetahs- including seven males and five females from South Africa- arrived in India on Saturday, months after eight cheetahs were ferried from Namibia.

The cheetahs were released in quarantine enclosures in Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and union forest minister Bhupendra Singh Yadav in the quarantine bomas.

With the addition of 12 more cheetahs, the total number of cheetahs in Kuno has gone up to 20.

Also Read: 12 cheetahs from South Africa arrive in Madhya Pradesh: 10 points

A special aircraft carrying cheetahs from South Africa reached Gwalior air base on Saturday morning. From there, the cheetahs were flown to KNP on Saturday afternoon in four army chinook helicopters.

Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) JS Chauhan said, “Ten quarantine enclosures have been prepared to keep 12 cheetahs. Of these, eight are new enclosures and two are old. Apart from this, two isolation wards have also been prepared. Shades have been made in all the quarantine bomas due to increase in temperature.”

With the addition of these 12 members, the count of cheetahs at the KNP has gone up to 20, said CM Chouhan as he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Today, the number of cheetahs is going to increase in Kuno National Park. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the bottom of my heart, this is his vision. 12 cheetahs will be released in Kuno and their number will increase to 20. The cheetahs are completely healthy,” CM Chouhan said.

According to forest officials, 10 quarantine enclosures have been created at the reserve for the big cats. Last year in September, eight cheetahs from Namibia were flown into India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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