Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve prepared for cheetah reintroduction
Source:drishtiias ↗
Why It Matters
Important for MPPSC aspirants tracking major wildlife developments, protected areas, and environmental updates within Madhya Pradesh.
Summary
The Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a second potential habitat for cheetahs under Project Cheetah, supplementing Kuno National Park. Spanning across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts, the reserve offers suitable ecological conditions and prey base to support the reintroduction and relocation of cheetahs.
Key Points
- Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has been prepared as a new alternative habitat for cheetahs alongside Kuno National Park.
- The reserve spans across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.
- This move aims to expand the range and habitat options for the re-introduced cheetah population under Project Cheetah in India.
Important Terms
Project Cheetah
India's ambitious intercontinental wildlife translocation program launched in 2022 to reintroduce the cheetah, which has been extinct in the country for over 70 years.
UPSC context
Important for MPPSC Paper III (Environment & Biodiversity) and Current Affairs; tests knowledge of national conservation projects and wildlife restoration.
Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve
Madhya Pradesh's newest designated cheetah habitat, spanning across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts, serving as an alternative home for relocated cheetahs alongside Kuno.
UPSC context
Essential for MPPSC Paper I & III (MP Geography and Protected Areas); tests knowledge of tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries in MP.
Kuno National Park
Located in Madhya Pradesh, it is India's primary and initial reintroduction site for African cheetahs under Project Cheetah.
UPSC context
Crucial for MPPSC Paper I (Geography of Madhya Pradesh) and environmental current affairs regarding national parks.
Static Concepts Connected
What are the key ecological and historical facts about Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh?
- Creation: Madhya Pradesh's 7th tiger reserve, created by merging Nauradehi and Veerangana Durgavati sanctuaries.
- Geography: Spans across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts, serving as an ecological corridor between Panna and Satpura.
- History: Named after the 16th-century Gond queen Rani Durgavati of the Gondwana region.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Project Cheetah + Gondwana History Linkages
Project Cheetah's habitat expansion into Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur links environmental geography with the historical legacy of the Gondwana kingdom and Rani Durgavati.
Expect matching questions pairing MP Tiger Reserves (including the 7th reserve) with their respective districts or historical namesake.
Linked PYQs · 2
Linked PYQs · 2
- 2023MPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Which type of forests are not found in Madhya Pradesh ?
- 2022MPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Which of the following is a major source of irrigation in Madhya Pradesh?
