New Cheetah Home
Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary Becomes India's Second Major Cheetah Habitat
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Key Points
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CCB-2 was born in Ghanzi, Botswana, arrived in India on February 28, and was first quarantined at Kuno before being released into the open forest there in May, where officials said she quickly adapted.
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The existing female cheetah at Gandhi Sagar had been there for about a year but had not conceived; the arrival of Radha is intended to improve the sanctuary’s breeding prospects.
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Gandhi Sagar’s first African cheetahs arrived through earlier transfers from Kuno: South African males Prabhas and Pawak were moved there in April 2025, followed five months later by South African female Dheera.
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Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey urged Kuno National Park officials to disclose more information about Elton’s health, saying the lack of transparency raised questions about what was being concealed.
Madhya Pradesh opened a new chapter in India's cheetah revival on Tuesday when Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released a female cheetah named Radha into Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. The roughly three-year-old cheetah, originally from Botswana, becomes the sanctuary's fourth African cheetah and marks a major step toward making Gandhi Sagar India's second major cheetah habitat after Kuno National Park, Times of India reported.
Radha's arrival strengthens breeding prospects at Gandhi Sagar, where an existing female has lived for a year without conceiving. Officials say the expanded population across the Kuno–Gandhi Sagar landscape could eventually reach 60 to 70 cheetahs, part of Project Cheetah's broader effort to restore the big cats to Indian wildlife. Madhya Pradesh now hosts more than 56 cheetahs total, including cubs, News18 reported.
From Botswana to Madhya Pradesh in Nine Months
Radha was born in Ghanzi, Botswana, and arrived in India on February 28. She spent three months quarantined at Kuno National Park before being released into the open forest there in May, where she adapted quickly to her new environment. The transfer to Gandhi Sagar this week represents the next phase of her journey under Project Cheetah, New Indian Express noted.
Building Gandhi Sagar's Cheetah Population From Zero
Gandhi Sagar's first African cheetahs arrived in stages. South African males Prabhas and Pawak were transferred from Kuno in April 2025, followed five months later by South African female Dheera. Radha's arrival brings the sanctuary to four cheetahs—three males and one female—creating a larger breeding group than existed before, FM Bharat reported.
Cheetah Habitat Expansion Targets Breeding and Tourism
The move to develop Gandhi Sagar as India's second major cheetah home reflects confidence in the sanctuary's ability to support the species long-term. Officials expect the expansion to boost conservation outcomes, draw tourists, and create local employment opportunities. The Kuno–Gandhi Sagar landscape now forms a connected network for cheetah recovery under Project Cheetah, Times of India stated.
Wildlife Activist Demands Transparency on Cheetah Health
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey called for greater openness from Kuno National Park officials regarding the health of a cheetah named Elton. Dubey said the lack of public disclosure about Elton raised questions about what officials were withholding. His appeal underscores broader concerns among conservationists about the transparency of Project Cheetah's management and animal welfare practices.
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