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MP CM Mohan Yadav's Birthday Gift: Turtles Released, Cheetah Boma Groundbreaking

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will mark his birthday by releasing turtles into the Bamner River and performing the groundbreaking for a cheetah rehabilitation 'boma' at the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. The reserve, declared in 2023, is the state's largest tiger habitat, spanning over 2,300 sq km and connecting 72 villages. Its terrain is deemed suitable for cheetahs, which are planned to be translocated from Kuno National Park. The area is also a biodiversity hotspot, home to 32 tigers, a significant wolf population, and around 240 bird species.

Key Points: MP CM Mohan Yadav's Birthday Wildlife Conservation Initiative

  • Turtle release into Bamner River
  • Cheetah soft-release boma groundbreaking
  • Reserve is MP's largest tiger habitat
  • Home to 32 tigers & high wolf population
  • Third cheetah destination in state
2 min read

MP: CM Mohan Yadav to release turtles into Bamner River on birthday tomorrow

MP CM Mohan Yadav to release turtles & launch cheetah rehab boma on his birthday at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.

"Cheetahs will soon be brought here from Kuno National Park for rehabilitation. - Official Release"

Bhopal, March 24

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister will release a dozen turtles into the Bamner River at the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve on the occasion of his birthday on Wednesday.

CM Yadav will also perform the groundbreaking ceremony for a soft-release 'boma' to facilitate the rehabilitation of cheetahs in the tiger reserve.

A soft-release boma is a specialized, large, fenced enclosure used in wildlife conservation to acclimatize animals to a new environment before full release. It enables, behavioral and physiological adaptation, and increasing survival rates compared to direct "hard" release.

According to an official release, Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve is the largest tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Spanning 2,339 square kilometres, it connects 72 villages across the districts of Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur. It is the 7th tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh and the 54th in India, and was declared a tiger reserve in 2023. At present, the reserve is home to 32 tigers. It is also known as the land of wolves, as it is home to one of the highest populations of wolves.

The tiger reserve has terrain suitable for cheetahs, similar to landscapes found in South Africa. As a result of which, Cheetahs will soon be brought here from Kuno National Park for rehabilitation. The sanctuary is also home to around 240 species of birds, which are a major attraction.

Additionally, a wide variety of wildlife are found in the tiger reserve, including tigers, leopards, wolves, bears, jackals, hyenas, foxes, wild boars, nilgai, four-horned antelope (chousingha), blackbuck, chinkara, turtles and crocodiles.

Along with wildlife conservation, the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve offers significant potential for tourism and employment generation in the region.

Notably, the reserve will be the third destination for the Cheetahs in the state after Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuno National Park. Currently, there are 53 Cheetahs residing in the state, including 33 Indian-born cheetah cubs. Of these, 50 are in Kuno National Park, and three are in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see focus on the environment. But I hope this isn't just a photo-op. The real work is in protecting the habitat from encroachment and ensuring the 72 villages around the reserve benefit from tourism, not just face displacement.
A
Aditya G
The scale of this tiger reserve is impressive - 2,339 sq km! It's our 54th tiger reserve. Projects like the soft-release boma for cheetahs show we are using advanced science for conservation. Proud moment for MP.
S
Sarah B
As someone who loves birdwatching, the 240 species of birds mentioned is the most exciting part for me! Hope the tourism development is eco-sensitive and creates good guides from the local communities.
K
Karthik V
Releasing turtles is a nice symbolic gesture, but the cheetah project is the big news. Moving them from Kuno to a new, suitable habitat is crucial for the long-term success of Project Cheetah. Fingers crossed! 🤞
N
Nisha Z
"Land of wolves" – that's fascinating! We always hear about tigers and leopards, but a healthy wolf population is a sign of a balanced ecosystem. Conservation efforts should protect all species, not just the charismatic ones.

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