The Gujarat government is set to add a cheetah breeding centre in the state’s wildlife ecosystem, joining the existing populations of lions and leopards. The central government has initiated the construction of the centre in Banni, Kutch.

The forest department has gathered information from Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park and conducted field visits to support the project. According to sources, cheetahs will be raised in cages equipped with water points, artificial sheds, forest lakes, and mound-like features. A 500-hectare enclosure will be developed, with an initial budget of ₹20 crore.

To support the cheetahs’ hunting needs, a 14,000-hectare grassland is being prepared. Additionally, wild animals previously kept in enclosures are now being released into forest areas.

Gujarat is home to over 7.53 lakh animals, including peacocks, Nilgai (bluebuck/cow), monkeys, leopards, and Indian gazelles. More than 20 lakh birds also reside in the state.

The Thol Bird Lake Sanctuary, which welcomed 31,380 birds 14 years ago, now boasts a population of 1.11 lakh birds. Similarly, the Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary has seen an increase from 1.31 lakh to 3.62 lakh birds over the same period.

In 2023, the bird population in Gujarat included 2.85 lakh peacocks, 2.24 lakh Nilgai, 2 lakh monkeys, over 1 lakh wild pigs, 9,170 deer, 6,208 Indian gazelles, 2,299 foxes, 2,274 leopards, and 1,484 civet cats. The state's lion population stands at 674, and the dolphin population is recorded at 680.

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