Madhya Pradesh expands cheetah habitat to Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh has expanded its cheetah conservation footprint with the introduction of a third habitat in the state. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav oversaw the release of two cheetahs-a male named Vyom and a female named Neera-into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district on Wednesday. This move marks a strategic progression in the state's reintroduction programme. The Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve now joins Kuno National Park and the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary as official sites for cheetah habitation. The expansion suggests a shift from initial experimental containment toward a more distributed spatial model for the species within the state's geography. Parallel to the ecological expansion, the state government is implementing a financial model designed to mitigate the friction between wildlife conservation and local livelihoods. Chief Minister Yadav highlighted a revenue-sharing mechanism where a portion of the income generated from wildlife sanctuaries is distributed among surrounding village communities. Of the ₹80 crore collected from the state's sanctuaries this year, ₹20 crore has already been disbursed to local residents.