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Exclusive | Ambitious plan for cheetah corridor between Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan put on backburner

MP officials confirm MoU put on hold since they want to ensure the state’s cheetah population grows first

3 min readBhopalUpdated: Sep 2, 2025 05:49 AM IST

According to wildlife officials, the two states tried to set up a corridor where the animals could roam freely in a protected habitat. (Source: Freepik)

The ambitious project to set up a 17,000 sq km cheetah corridor so that the animals could roam freely between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan has been put on hold after MP forest officials decided to prioritise stabilising the cheetah population in their home state first.

According to wildlife officials, the two states tried to set up a corridor where the animals could roam freely in a protected habitat. This was done since cheetahs tend to cover long distances.

Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Ashok Barnwal told The Indian Express, “We have currently put the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Government of Rajasthan on hold. This is because we want to first ensure that the cheetah population in Madhya Pradesh stabilises and grows. Only after this is achieved will we move forward with the project with the Rajasthan government.”

A senior wildlife official from Rajasthan said they were still waiting for the MP government to sign the MoU. “In June, we expected to hear from the MP government, and they communicated to us that it would not proceed currently due to unprecedented circumstances. Then, we wrote another letter to know the status of the MoU just a week ago and are awaiting their reply.”

According to a senior MP wildlife official, the MoU was put on hold for the time being as officials feared the cheetahs from MP may not return to their home state. Over the last two years, cheetahs have crossed into Rajasthan multiple times. On August 12, female cheetah Jwala was rescued from Kareera Kalan village in Sawaimadhopur district of Rajasthan, under challenging conditions. With an enormous crowd of onlookers, the cornered animal was rescued after darting.

“Cheetahs are free-ranging animals, and the long-term plan is that they move to other states in India, discover a new prey base and populate. This is what happened under Project Tiger, too. We set up tiger corridors, trained the staff and eventually, the protection was expanded, helping in its conservation. But, right now, there is a fear that the cheetahs may not return, hence we are focusing on increasing the cheetah population,” the officer said.

The corridor was meant to link Palpur Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh with the Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. As part of the plan, seven districts in Rajasthan — Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, and Chittorgarh — were to be integrated into the project. Of the total corridor area, 10,500 square km would have fallen within Madhya Pradesh, and 6,500 square km in Rajasthan.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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