Why in the News?

Madhya Pradesh CM has announced that Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary will soon become the third home for cheetahs in the State, after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.

About Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary:

Overview: Largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, covering 1,197 sq km across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts; located between the Narmada and Ganga river basins, forming a key ecological transition zone.
Establishment: Declared in 1975 to conserve the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), the flagship species. Habitat includes dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and grasslands supporting leopard, sloth bear, blackbuck, nilgai, chital, and hyena populations.
Upgradation (2024): Elevated to a Tiger Reserve to strengthen protection and become eligible for Project Cheetah under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Connectivity: Linked with Panna Tiger Reserve and Satpura Tiger Reserve through the Nauradehi–Panna corridor, ensuring gene flow across Central India’s forest landscapes.
Habitat Characteristics: Open woodlands, scrub forests, and wide grass patches with undulating terrain ideal for high-speed pursuit predators like cheetahs.
Prey Base: Rich in blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), chital (Axis axis), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), and wild boar.
Environmental Setting: Moderate rainfall, tributaries of the Narmada River, and dry tropical climate create a balanced hydrological regime.
Scientific Endorsement: Recognised by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and NTCA as among India’s most feasible future cheetah habitats.

Nauradehi WLS to become 3rd home for Cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh

Cheetahs and their Reintroduction in India:

Overview: The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the world’s fastest land mammal (80–128 km/h). Two subspecies: African cheetah (A.j. jubatus) across Africa and Asiatic cheetah (A.j. venaticus) confined to Iran (< 30 individuals).
Conservation Status: Asiatic subspecies Critically Endangered by the IUCN; global population ≈ 6,500 mature individuals.
Extinction in India: Last recorded in Koriya (Chhattisgarh) in 1947; officially declared extinct in 1952 due to hunting and grassland degradation.
Project Cheetah (2022): Implemented by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and NTCA with WII support; aims to restore cheetahs in India’s grasslands and revive lost ecological roles.
Translocation Phases: Eight cheetahs from Namibia (Sept 2022) and twelve from South Africa (Feb 2023) released at Kuno National Park (Madhya Pradesh).
Meta-Population Plan: To establish a connected population across Kuno, Gandhi Sagar, Nauradehi, and Mukundra Hills (Rajasthan) ensuring genetic diversity and landscape-level connectivity.
Long-Term Goal: Create a self-sustaining population of 35–40 individuals within 15 years through science-based, landscape-driven restoration.
Current Phase: Majority under semi-captive adaptation at Kuno; expansion to Nauradehi and Gandhi Sagar Tiger Reserves planned to reduce crowding and enhance resilience.

[UPSC 2012] Consider the following:
1. Black-necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying squirrel 4. Snow leopardWhich of the above are naturally found in India?(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only*

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

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