Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve Becomes India's Third Cheetah Habitat as Two Cheetahs Are Released

7 October 2026National

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav released two cheetahs — male Tholo and female CCB-3, both moved from Kuno National Park — into Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve on 7 October 2026, closing Wildlife Conservation Week. Also called Nauradehi, the reserve covers about 2,339 sq km across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts, making it the state's largest tiger reserve, with 439 hectares earmarked for cheetahs. It becomes India's third cheetah habitat after Kuno and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. This follows the milestone reported days earlier of India's cheetah count reaching 60 — 41 of them India-born — after KJP21 bore five cubs at Kuno on 5 October.

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Project Cheetah began on 17 September 2022 when eight Namibian cheetahs were released at Kuno National Park | The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952; it is the world's fastest land animal | Madhya Pradesh is called India's 'Tiger State' and also holds the 'Cheetah State' tag

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