Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, the initial site for cheetah translocations in India, faces challenges with a high leopard population and low prey base. These issues have also delayed preparations at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, the second site for cheetah introduction.

The Centre’s Cheetah Project Steering Committee has identified prey augmentation and leopard management as key issues since the reintroduction began in September 2022. The low prey density at Kuno led to cheetahs being kept in enclosures longer than planned. 

Authorities are addressing these challenges by introducing prey and relocating leopards from both Kuno and Gandhi Sagar. Madhya Pradesh, which has the highest number of leopards in India, reports ongoing efforts to manage the leopard population, with 15 leopards already relocated from Gandhi Sagar.