Year after cheetahs arrived at Kuno, survey to be held on bringing them to two other MP sanctuaries
Year after cheetahs arrived at Kuno, survey to be held on bringing them to
two other MP sanctuaries
The New Indian Express
February 26, 2024
A year after 12 cheetahs from South Africa joined eight Namibian cheetahs
at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, MP CM
Dr Mohan Yadav joined Bhupender Yadav, Union minister for environment,
forest and climate change, in a review of the project on Monday.
The review meeting which was held at a resort in Saisipura area of Sheopur
district (around 45 km from the KNP) was attended by all top centre and
state officials related to the cheetah project.
A slew of decisions was taken at the meeting, including making MP the hub
of forest-based job oriented economy, with the KNP forming its fulcrum.
The Union minister said a team of experts from Namibia and South Africa
will conduct fresh surveys for introducing African cheetahs at the Gandhi
Sagar and Nauradehi Wildlife sanctuaries in MP.
Addressing the meeting, the MP CM said, “By transforming MP into a forest
based economy, particularly an ecotourism hub in the country, around 2 lakh
people will get jobs in Kuno and adjoining areas only.”
While maintaining that MP was the central point of eco-tourism in the
country, Union minister Bhupender Yadav said that Kuno will be turned into
an ecotourism hub and a central ecotourism center too would be established.
“We’ll work to turn Kuno and the adjoining region into a unique model of
economic development. Over the next five years, Kuno will be established in
the international tourism market with the aim of making it the first region
to have an Rs 1000 crore economy without any industry,” the union minister
said.
Two cheetahs being released to a bigger enclosure for further adaptation to
the habitat after the mandatory quarantine, at Kuno National Park, Madhya
Pradesh. (Photo | PTI)
Three cubs born to Namibian cheetah Aasha in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National
Park
“In the future over 40,000 tourists are likely to visit Kuno annually, the
young generations of Kuno and neighbourhood will be trained in various
spheres, including catering, tourist guiding and photography skills to
cater to tourist requirements and generate jobs and livelihood for local
people. Outlets of unique products of the region to be operated by women
self-help groups would also be established,” the minister said.
While 20 cheetahs (8 from Namibia and 12 from South Africa) were housed at
the KNP between September 2022 and February 2023, seven of them have died
so far. Currently, there are 21 cheetahs at the KNP, including 13 adults
and eight cubs, including an 11-month-cub.
According to an MP government statement, on the request of the MP CM, the
Union minister also assured that a dedicated Madhya Pradesh Elephant
Project would be started under which forest dwellers of areas which are
frequented by elephants will be trained as Gaj Mitras.
A central team comprising experts who have experience of dealing with
elephants in Assam and Kerala will soon study the elephant herds in MP and
submit a report to the state government, which will enable the state to
work on elephant conservation.
The eastern MP districts – Umaria, Shahdol and Anuppur – are dealing with
issues related to wild elephants from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Just this
month, three men have been reportedly killed in the three eastern MP
districts by wild elephants.
The MP forest minister Nagar Singh Chouhan, meanwhile, said that the army
of Cheetah Mitras in areas neighbouring the KNP have been given bicycles
now, but they will be equipped with motorbikes in future.