Source: TH
Context: Madhya Pradesh’s Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is set to become India’s second cheetah habitat, with six to eight cheetahs from South Africa expected to arrive before summer 2025.
About Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location:
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- Situated in northwestern Madhya Pradesh, along the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border.
- Covers 368 sq. km and lies within the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forest ecoregion.
- Divided into two parts by the Chambal River, forming a diverse habitat.
- Habitat & Climate:
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- Climate: Semi-arid, with hot summers and moderate winters.
- Vegetation: Northern tropical dry deciduous forests and scrublands, providing ideal open grasslands for cheetahs.
- Key Flora: Khair, Salai, Kardhai, Dhawda, Tendu, and Palash trees.
- Fauna: Rich Biodiversity
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- Herbivores (Prey for Cheetahs): Chinkara, Nilgai, Spotted Deer.
- Carnivores: Indian Leopard, Striped Hyena, Jackal (managed to prevent conflicts).
- Unique Features of the Sanctuary:
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- Designated as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).
- Prehistoric Rock Art & Human Settlement: The Chaturbhuj Nala rock shelters, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), feature prehistoric cave paintings depicting early human life, including hunting scenes with spotted animals resembling cheetahs.
- Once a Cheetah Habitat: Oral traditions and local folklore suggest that cheetahs once roamed the region before their extinction in India in 1952.
- Why Gandhi Sagar is Suitable for Cheetahs?
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- Open savanna-like habitat, resembling African cheetah ecosystems.
- Prey base management: Spotted deer and Nilgai introduced to maintain sufficient food supply.
- Low predator density: Leopards population is actively controlled to reduce competition, ensuring cheetah survival.
- First Cheetah Reintroduction Site in India:
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- Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh: Hosted first cheetah translocation from Namibia (8) and South Africa (12) in 2022-2023.
- Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary now selected as second cheetah habitat to expand the species’ range and ensure long-term conservation.
