Sheopur (MP), March 1 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released gharials and turtles into the river at Kuno National Park in the Sheopur district on Sunday, calling it an important step towards conservation.
Yadav released 53 gharials and 25 turtles into the Kuno River near the Palpur Fort inside the national park during a programme organized under the aegis of the National Chambal Sanctuary.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that efforts were being made to conserve and increase the population of gharials and turtles, and the state government was taking steps to protect endangered species.
Yadav pointed out that the cheetah reintroduction project, launched at KNP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative, was steadily progressing towards success.
Nine cheetahs airlifted from Botswana were released into the national park on Saturday, bringing the total number to 48.
According to officials, of the gharials released in the river, 28 were male and 25 were female.
The turtles released were of the three-striped roofed turtle species (Batagur dhongoka), they said.