Nauradehi Prepares to Welcome African Cheetahs: Grasslands and Hills Ready, Relocation Expected in May-June

Bundelkhand is gearing up for an ambitious wildlife initiative. The Veerangana Durgawati Tiger Reserve in Nauradehi is set to soon witness the graceful leaps of African cheetahs. Preparations are underway, including the construction of specialized enclosures such as “soft release bomas” and “quarantine bomas.” With this project, Nauradehi is poised to become the country’s first tiger reserve where big cats—tigers, leopards, and cheetahs—can be seen coexisting.

Ground-Level Preparations Underway
Following the success of the Cheetah Project in Kuno and Gandhi Sagar, the Veerangana Durgawati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district is now the focus for cheetah relocation. Ground-level work has commenced to set up enclosures and other essential facilities. Specific zones within the reserve have already been identified for settling the cheetahs.

Once all arrangements are finalized, the project is expected to formally begin within a week, both administratively and on the ground. The reserve will soon initiate the tender process for facilities needed for the African cheetahs. The Tiger Reserve has already received an initial grant of approximately ₹5 crore for the project.

Soft Release and Quarantine Bomas Being Constructed
The designated areas in the reserve are being prepared with soft release and quarantine bomas, along with improvements to grasslands. Plans include developing multiple enclosures spanning 50–100 hectares each. Given the open terrain in the Damoh region, fencing will be installed to prevent human-cheetah conflicts.

Expert Guidance from NTCA
In May 2025, a team of experts from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and other agencies visited Damoh-Sagar to assess the reserve. Following their recommendations, the management and forest department have begun constructing the bomas to ensure smooth relocation.

Cheetah Arrival Expected by May-June
Following successful tiger relocations, the reserve’s open grasslands will soon host cheetahs from South Africa. Relocation from Kuno is expected anytime between May and June. Initially, the cheetahs will be housed in bomas under close observation. If successful, Veerangana Durgawati Tiger Reserve will become India’s first tiger reserve to host tigers, cheetahs, and leopards together.

Eight Cheetahs Arriving Soon, Kuno Population to Expand
The cheetahs will arrive from Botswana this month, and the relocation will increase the cheetah population in Kuno. The Veerangana Durgawati Tiger Reserve, covering parts of Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts, spans 2,339 sq km, with a core area of 1,414 sq km and a buffer zone of 925.12 sq km.

Eight Years of Conservation Efforts
The region’s restoration efforts date back to 2018 when a tiger pair was released in the Nauradehi sanctuary, later upgraded to a tiger reserve. Over the years, the reserve has focused on expansion, wildlife conservation, and species restoration. Recently, an orphaned tiger from Kanha Tiger Reserve was also introduced here.