Cheetahs Poised to Roar in Nauradehi: India's Next Big Cat Stronghold

As of November 6th, 2025, Madhya Pradesh wildlife officials are quietly preparing Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary to become India's third cheetah stronghold. This sprawling 2,339 sq km sanctuary, which has long been overshadowed by the state's more glamorous tiger reserves, is now poised to play a crucial role in the cheetah reintroduction project.

The decision to introduce cheetahs to Nauradehi marks a calculated gamble by wildlife authorities. The sanctuary, which currently hosts 25 tigers, 100 crocodiles, and other predators like wolves and panthers, will now have to accommodate the world's fastest big cats. To create space for the cheetahs, the relocation of 44 out of 93 villages in the sanctuary's core area is already underway.

Officials believe Nauradehi's prey base and grassland quality are excellent, with a diverse population of nilgai, chital, and chinkara. Based on current prey density, the area could initially support up to 25 cheetahs, and with improved management, that number could potentially double to 52 individuals within the 750 sq km core area alone. Authorities are optimistic that the Nauradehi landscape could eventually harbor over 70 cheetahs.

As the state government prepares critical infrastructure, including veterinary care units, animal rehabilitation centers, and staff quarters, the first batch of cheetahs is expected to arrive in Nauradehi next year. This ambitious project aims to establish a new cheetah stronghold in central India, potentially allowing the big cats to recolonize a vast swath of the region.