In News:

Rajasthan has joined hands with Madhya Pradesh to develop India’s first inter-state cheetah conservation corridor, a landmark initiative under the Cheetah Reintroduction Project. The corridor will facilitate the safe movement of cheetahs across a 17,000 sq. km protected landscape, enhancing conservation and habitat connectivity.

Key Features of the Cheetah Conservation Corridor

Aspect                          Details

Total Area                  17,000 sq. km (MP: 10,500 sq. km; Rajasthan: 6,500 sq. km)

States Involved      Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan

Supported by           National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Institute of India (WII)

MoU Status                 In progress between Chief Ministers of MP and Rajasthan

Geographical Scope and Key Sites

• PalpurKuno National Park (MP):Core site for cheetah reintroduction; located in Sheopur district.
• Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary (MP):Being developed as a second habitat for cheetahs; located in Mandsaur district along the Chambal River.
• Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan):Proposed extension site; comprises parts of Darrah, Jawahar Sagar, and Chambal sanctuaries in Kota division.
• Rajasthan Districts Involved:Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Chittorgarh
• Proposed Future Expansion:Forest regions of Jhansi and Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh

Objectives and Benefits

• Inter-State Wildlife Connectivity:India’s first corridor linking cheetah habitats across state borders.
• Seamless Migration:Enables cheetahs to roam freely between reserves, mimicking natural ecological patterns.
• Ecological Restoration:Aims to revive and conserve India’s arid grassland ecosystems, which are essential habitats for cheetahs.
• Federal Conservation Model:Demonstrates cooperative federalism in wildlife management and biodiversity conservation.
• Global Recognition:Touted as a unique conservation model in Asia, aligning with Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) targets.