Nine cheetahs brought from Botswana landed in Madhya Pradesh on February 28 and were shifted to Kuno National Park, where they have been placed in a quarantine enclosure. With their arrival, the total number of cheetahs under India’s reintroduction programme has risen to 48.
Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav released the six females and three males into the enclosure, according to Madhya Pradesh Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) L Krishnamoorthy.
The animals, forming the third batch from Africa, arrived earlier in the day aboard an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft as part of India’s four-year cheetah revival plan. District public relations officer Avantika Shrivastava said the cheetahs were flown from Botswana to Gwalior by the IAF and then airlifted to Kuno in helicopters.
The IAF has been associated with Project Cheetah since the beginning, having earlier transported cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022 and from South Africa in February 2023, said Project Cheetah Director Uttam Sharma.
“The addition of more cheetahs will further strengthen the programme. With continued support from the Centre, we hope to raise the population to 50 soon,” Sharma said.
Officials said three cheetahs have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, while 36 are currently housed at Kuno. They pointed out that endangered species are usually not kept in a single habitat, as disease outbreaks could pose a serious threat to the entire population.
The cheetah, known as the world’s fastest land animal, had gone extinct in India nearly 70 years ago. The ongoing project aims to establish a stable breeding population in the wild.
Last year, Kuno witnessed the birth of 12 cubs, though six — including three cubs — did not survive. So far this year, nine cubs have been born in two litters between February 7 and 18. Since 2023, a total of 39 cubs have been born at the park, of which 27 have survived.
Among the adult cheetahs that have produced litters at Kuno are Namibia-born Jwala and Aasha; South Africa-born Gamini, Veera and Nirva; and India-born Mukhi — key milestones in the country’s cheetah conservation journey