India, March 17 -- The Madhya Pradesh forest department has translocated 17 leopards from the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife (GSW) Sanctuary in Mandsaur district and seven more will be shifted in the next few months to introduce cheetahs in the sanctuary by the end of this year, officials said. However, three of the translocated cheetahs died in territorial fights in their new homes, sparking criticism from a section of wildlife experts.

"Seventeen leopards were released in Omkareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Khandwa, Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary in Dewas and eastern forest area of Gandhi Sagar Wildlife (GSW) Sanctuary. Two leopards died in Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary, and one died in the eastern part of the Gandhi Sagar sanctuary within two to four mon...