Kuno National Park (KNP), the only habitat for cheetahs in India, reopened to tourists on Sunday after a seasonal closure for the annual monsoon. However, visitors will have to wait longer for the chance to see the cheetahs in the wild, as the animals have yet to be released.
After nearly eight decades of extinction due to hunting, eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia to KNP in September 2022 and placed in bomas (enclosures) to help revive the population.
In February 2023, an additional 12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa as part of the Indian government's project to reintroduce the species.
The park, which spans 1,235 square kilometres, including a 487 square kilometre buffer zone, is now welcoming visitors from 6:30 am to 10 am and 3 pm to 6 pm, according to KNP Director Uttam Sharma. T
he park currently houses 24 cheetahs, including 12 adults from Namibia and South Africa.
When asked about the timeline for releasing the cheetahs for public viewing, Sharma stated that discussions are ongoing. “The final decision will be made by the Government of India, which is leading the inter-continental translocation project,” he added.
Kuno National Park was delayed in reopening due to excessive rainfall in Sheopur district, which affected road conditions within the park.
Sheopur recorded 1,323.2 mm of rainfall during the monsoon season, significantly higher than its average of 666.4 mm, resulting in a 99 per cent increase over normal rainfall levels, according to P K Raikwar, a meteorologist with the India Meteorological Department’s Bhopal Centre.
All other national parks in Madhya Pradesh reopened on October 1 after being closed from July 1 for the rainy season and mating periods of wildlife.
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