Patanjali Civil Services Academy

Cheetahs Released in Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve [Prelims Bits]

Tags: Prelims Current events of national and international importance

Source: The Hindu

Context: Two cheetahs — Vyom and Neera — released in Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
Becomes M.P.’s third cheetah habitat, after:
1. Kuno National Park – Sheopur
2. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary – Mandsaur
3. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve – Sagar/Bundelkhand
Cheetah: World’s fastest land animal; adapted to open grasslands and savanna-like habitats.
India’s cheetah conservation programme seeks to establish a viable, free-ranging cheetah population through translocation and habitat management.
Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve: Located in Bundelkhand region of M.P.
Project Cheetah was launched in 2022 with the translocation of cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno National Park; subsequent animals have also arrived from South Africa.
Cheetah vs. Leopard: Cheetahs have solid black spots and characteristic tear marks on the face; leopards have rosette patterns.

Q1. Consider the following pairs:

Protected area	Location / association
1. Kuno National Park	Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh
2. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary	Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh
3. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve	Bundelkhand region, Madhya Pradesh
4. Gir National Park	Primary habitat of India's wild cheetah population

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Pair 1 is Correct: Kuno National Park is in Sheopur district.
Pair 2 is Correct: Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is associated with Mandsaur district.
Pair 3 is Correct: Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve is situated in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.
Pair 4 is Incorrect: Gir is the principal natural range of the Asiatic lion, not India's cheetah population.