The Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is a protected wildlife sanctuary (a type of institution) located in the Mandsaur and Neemuch districts of Madhya Pradesh, with its boundary adjoining Rajasthan. It was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1974 and its area was subsequently expanded in 1983. The sanctuary, which spans 368.62 sq. km, was established for the conservation of its diverse ecosystem, which includes dry deciduous forests and grasslands.
The sanctuary is bisected by the Chambal River and includes the catchment area of the Gandhi Sagar Dam. Its mechanism for protection is governed by the framework of India's wildlife laws, and it is also recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).
The most significant recent change is its development as the second home for cheetahs in India, after Kuno National Park, as part of the national Project Cheetah. This development is overseen by the Cheetah Project Steering Committee under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The project aims to establish a self-sustaining cheetah population and involves the construction of a 64-acre enclosure (or soft-release boma) and a renovated hospital. The sanctuary received its first cheetahs in 2025, with two male cheetahs, Prabhas and Pawak, translocated in April 2025, followed by the female cheetah Dheera in September 2025, all shifted from Kuno National Park. This recent focus on cheetah reintroduction has necessitated the preparation of the habitat, including the relocation of prey animals like chital and gaurs.