Gujarat is preparing to welcome cheetahs by 2026, making it the second state in India after Madhya Pradesh to host the big cat. The state has completed a 600-hectare enclosure in the Banni grasslands of Kutch, and the Centre is in advanced talks with an African country to bring the first batch.
Gujarat Forest Department officials said they have requested the Centre to fast-track the cheetah relocation. Initial objections from local farmers have been resolved.
Approved in December 2023 under the expanded Project Cheetah, the centre in Banni includes a veterinary hospital, advanced monitoring facilities and a herbivore breeding centre. To create a natural prey base, 350 herbivores—including deer and blackbucks—have already been released inside the enclosure.
Meanwhile, Gujarat’s dream of getting its first tiger reserve may also be closer. A tiger has been living in Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary for nine months, prompting the state to request four to five more tigers from the NTCA.
Gujarat continues to emerge as a wildlife-rich state, with over 9.53 lakh animals across 21 species. The lion population has grown from 327 in 2001 to 891 in 2025, thanks to strong conservation measures. The state’s wetlands are also thriving, hosting 18–20 lakh migratory birds in 2024, with Thol and Nalsarovar showing huge growth.