From Kuno to Durgavati, Cheetahs Find Their Third Home in Madhya Pradesh

The conservation effort towards cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh has been further increased by making the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district another location housing the cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh. On October 7, 2026, the two cheetahs, namely Vyom (male) and Neera (female), have been released by the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, into the tiger reserve.

Release of Vyom and Neera into Durgavati Tiger Reserve

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has released the two cheetahs into the wild in the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve and watched them through his binoculars.

This development signifies the increase of the cheetah conservation programme of the state from its two habitats to a third habitat, namely:

Tourism Revenue to be Shared with Local Villagers

The other thing associated with cheetah translocation was the state government’s policy of associating wildlife protection with tourism and community development.

Mohan Yadav stated that the state of Madhya Pradesh was going to ensure that people living near wildlife reserves get their share of tourism generated revenue.

As per the figures provided by the Chief Minister,

• Rs. 80 crores have been collected from the wildlife sanctuaries in the state in a year.
• Rs. 20 crores were distributed to the villagers living nearby.
• Government believes that the revenue sharing is right and fair as far as the people living around the wildlife reserves are concerned.
• The cabinet would consider the necessary amendments in order to ensure that bigger landowners living around certain wildlife reserves, who do not get their shares at present, start getting their due share.

The policy is supposed to encourage more participation of people in the protection of wild animals by making sure that they benefit economically through tourism around wildlife reserves.

Government Homestay Subsidy Scheme in Buffer Villages of Wildlife Reserves

Similarly, the Madhya Pradesh government has introduced another scheme wherein homestays can be developed in villages which are in buffer areas of wildlife reserves.

According to the scheme, villagers can build one, two, or three rooms in their houses and make it available to tourists.

Under the scheme, the government shall offer subsidy amounting up to ₹2-3 lakh to eligible villagers for making homestay accommodations.

The scheme will help,

• Generate additional income for local people.
• Engage local people in tourism activities.
• Generate accommodation options for wildlife sites.
• Coordinate with conservation, tourism, and locals.

This scheme indicates a focus on generating benefits from tourism for those communities which are in close proximity to wildlife reserves.

Wildlife Conservation Activities of Madhya Pradesh

In the concluding session of the Wildlife Conservation Week, the Vulture Population Assessment-2026 was also released by Mohan Yadav.

As mentioned in the article, there was a 123% increase in the vulture population in Madhya Pradesh.

According to the Chief Minister, this shows how effective the conservation of wildlife is in the state.

This shows that the vulture population assessment becomes another aspect of wildlife conservation activities of Madhya Pradesh along with the increasing cheetah programme.

Project Cheetah and Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh has turned out to be the primary state of India for its cheetah introduction project.

Kuno National Park has been the first cheetah habitat introduced in the state. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary has been formed as the second cheetah habitat.

Release of Vyom and Neera has made Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve the third cheetah habitat of Madhya Pradesh.

This would not only broaden the scope of conservation but will also allow distribution of animals in more than one landscape rather than keeping them concentrated in one place only.