Preparations have now begun to release the leopards confined in the enclosure of Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh back into the open. They will be released in the National Park in numbers of two each. The special thing is that now it has been decided not to capture and bring back the leopards. Last time some leopards had gone till the border of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Now leopards will live freely in Kuno National Park, the land of leopards in the country. Approval to release them from the big enclosure into the open forest has been received from the Cheetah Steering Committee. Cheetahs will be released in twos each. After this, considering the situation, other leopards and cubs will also be released into the open forest.
Preparations for releasing the leopards have been started. The special thing is that leopards will be able to roam freely even in the neighboring states. The responsibility for their food, security and monitoring will be of the forest division of the concerned state. A decision to this effect was taken recently in the workshop of 22 forest divisional officers from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh at Kuno National Park.
12 adults and 12 cheetah cubs
Let us tell you, currently there are 12 adults and 12 cheetah cubs in Kuno National Park. Everyone is kept in a big enclosure. Leopards were brought to India for the first time on September 17, 2022. On March 11, 2023, cheetahs Pawan and Asha were released into the open forest for the first time. A few days later, Cheetah Gaurav (Elton) and Shaurya (Freddy) were released.
Leopards had reached the border of Rajasthan and UP
The border of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh is close to Kuno. When the cheetahs were released in the open forest, some of them came out of the pond and reached nearby districts Morena, Shivpuri, Jhansi-Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh, Karauli and Baran of Rajasthan.
During the rains, one leopard died due to neck infection caused by the radio collar belt, so all the leopards were brought to Kuno and kept in a big enclosure. Cubs were also born here.
Cheetahs will not be brought back
Now with the decision to release the cheetahs back into the open forest, it has also been decided that they will not be brought back. The concerned forest division will monitor them. According to wildlife experts, cheetah is a natural habitat animal, hence there should not be any hindrance in their free movement. Meanwhile, preparations for cheetah safari in Kuno have also been started. The vehicles are being prepared. The recruitment process of tourist guides is also going on.
A leopard needs an area of 100 square km
According to wildlife experts, a leopard requires an area of about 100 square km. The area of Kuno forest is about 1200 square km. Of this, 748 square km is in the main zone and 487 km is in the buffer zone. There are 24 leopards including cubs in Kuno, hence the area of Kuno forest will be less for leopards.
