Current Context: Madhya Pradesh has initiated a plan to introduce a female cheetah into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary to expand the cheetah reintroduction programme in India.

ABOUT GANDHI SAGAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• Location: Northwestern Madhya Pradesh (along MP-Rajasthan border)
• Declared as: Wildlife sanctuary in 1974
• Area: 368 sq. km
• Rivers: Chambal River flows through it, dividing it into two parts
• Ecoregion: Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests

Key Features:

• Identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA)
• Includes historical and archaeological sites like:
  • Chaurasigarh
  • Chaturbhujnath Temple
  • Bhadkaji rock paintings
  • Hinglajgarh Fort
  • Taxakeshwar Temple