Wildlife enthusiasts rejoice! You will now be able to spot cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh's wildlife conservation efforts reached a historic milestone as forest officials released two male cheetahs, Agni and Vayu, into the wilderness of Kuno National Park. Timed with the inauguration of the Kuno Forest Festival, this initiative not only aims to enhance the park's allure but also offers tourists the opportunity to witness these magnificent creatures in the designated Ahera tourism zone during safari visits. Since these two cheetahs have been released in the Parond forest range that falls under the Ahera tourism zone, visitors can now glimpse the magnificent creatures in all their natural glory.
Scheduled from December 17 to 21, the Kuno Forest Festival features a forest retreat (tent city) designed to attract wildlife enthusiasts and tourists alike. Celebrating the diverse flora and fauna of Kuno, the event also advocates for cheetah conservation. Attendees can indulge in local art, craft, folk music and dances, along with a variety of adventure sports. Visitors can enjoy activities such as jungle safaris, hot air ballooning, parasailing, paragliding, cave excursions, folk music performances, and village tours.
Situated in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, Kuno National Park in Central India showcases the influence of Rajasthan's vegetation due to its proximity to the state border. The decision to release the cheetahs follows the careful monitoring of 15 cheetahs (seven male, seven female and a cub), housed in enclosures since August, as part of the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, as a team of veterinarians monitored their health. Twenty cheetahs were relocated from Namibia and South Africa in two batches under this project, and their gradual release has received in-principle approval from the steering committee. While six adult cheetahs and three cubs born in India have unfortunately passed away since March this year, the conservation efforts continue.
To reach Sheopur, the nearest airport is Jaipur (203 km), offering daily flights to Delhi and Mumbai. Taxis are readily available from Jaipur to Sheopur. The closest railway station is Sawai Madhopur (Rajasthan), just 65 km away, with accessible bus and taxi services. Kuno is easily reachable by a 65 km road journey from Sheopur.