Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve to Host Cheetahs

Madhya Pradesh has announced plans to develop the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve as a new habitat for cheetahs, marking another significant step in India’s ambitious big-cat conservation programme. The move aims to strengthen wildlife restoration initiatives and enhance biodiversity management in the central Indian landscape.

The proposed introduction of cheetahs will expand their population range beyond existing sites, reducing ecological pressure on a limited number of reserves. By identifying Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve as a suitable habitat, authorities aim to create a more resilient and geographically distributed cheetah population, improving long-term survival prospects for the species in India.

From an ecological perspective, the inclusion of cheetahs contributes to greater ecosystem diversity. As apex or near-apex predators, cheetahs play a crucial role in maintaining prey population balance and overall grassland and forest health. Their presence can help restore natural trophic dynamics and support broader conservation outcomes for associated species.

The initiative also reflects Madhya Pradesh’s growing role as a hub for wildlife conservation, already home to a large number of tiger reserves and protected areas. Integrating cheetah conservation with existing tiger management strategies will require careful planning to minimise human–wildlife conflict and ensure adequate prey availability and habitat suitability.

Overall, the decision to host cheetahs at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve underscores India’s commitment to species restoration and ecological conservation. By expanding habitats and strengthening management frameworks, the initiative aims to support sustainable wildlife conservation and long-term ecological resilience.