Context: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister will release two cheetahs into the wild at Kuno National Park.
- This event marks a continuing milestone for Project Cheetah, which has seen the park’s cheetah population grow to 57 individuals.
About Kuno National Park:
What it is?
- Kuno National Park is a premier wildlife destination and the site of the world’s first intercontinental big cat relocation project.
- Originally established as a sanctuary of 350 sq. km in 1981, it was upgraded to a National Park in 2018 to meet the conditions for hosting Asiatic Lions. It now spans 748 sq. km of pristine forest within a larger 1,235 sq. km wildlife division.
Location:
- State: Madhya Pradesh, India (Sheopur and Morena districts).
- Region: It is part of the Vindhyan hill range and was historically part of the Gwalior princely state.
History:
- Ancient & Mughal Era: Historically rich in wildlife, Mughal records from 1564 note Emperor Akbar capturing elephants here. Abul Fazl recorded the presence of lions in the region, with the last lion reportedly shot near Guna in 1872.
- Lord Curzon & Maharaja Scindia (1904): A bold, early attempt at lion relocation was made by Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia I, who brought 10 African lions in 1905. However, the project failed after the lions turned into cattle-lifters in Shivpuri.
- Project Cheetah (2022): Prime Minister of India launched the modern reintroduction project in September 2022 with cheetahs from Namibia, followed by batches from South Africa and Botswana.
Key Features:
- Kuno River: The spine of the park, this river bisects the forest, ensuring a constant water supply and giving the protected area its name.
- Flora (The Never Say Die Forest): The park is dominated by Kardhai, Khair, and Salai trees. The Kardhai tree is unique for its ability to turn green just from atmospheric humidity even before the first monsoon rains.
- Vast Grasslands: Kuno features expansive meadows and grasslands, some of which are larger than those found in famous reserves like Kanha or Bandhavgarh, making it ideal for high-speed predators like cheetahs.
- Terrain: A mix of sparse forests, rocky hills, and wide river valleys typical of the Central Indian highlands.
Significance:
- Kuno is at the heart of the world’s most ambitious big cat relocation effort, successfully reintroducing cheetahs to Asia after 70 years of extinction.
- The park serves as a vital laboratory for restoring the grassland-forest ecosystem and provides a potential future home for the Asiatic Lion, aiming to create a second population outside of Gir, Gujarat.
