Eight cheetahs to be brought to India from Botswana; first four to arrive in May (2025)

During the meeting, NTCA officials informed that over Rs 112 crore has been spent on Project Cheetah so far, with 67 per cent allocated toward cheetah rehabilitation efforts in Madhya Pradesh

India is set to welcome eight cheetahs from Botswana in southern Africa, with the translocation scheduled in two phases. Officials have confirmed that the first group of four cheetahs will arrive by May, reported news agency PTI.

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According to a release from the Madhya Pradesh government, this update was shared by officials of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) during a review meeting of the Cheetah Project held on Friday. The meeting was attended by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

"Efforts are underway to bring more cheetahs from South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya to India. Eight cheetahs will be brought in two phases, with four from Botswana arriving by May. The next batch of four will follow later. Currently, discussions are ongoing to finalize an agreement between India and Kenya," NTCA officials stated, reported PTI.

During the meeting, NTCA officials informed that over Rs 112 crore has been spent on Project Cheetah so far, with 67 per cent allocated toward cheetah rehabilitation efforts in Madhya Pradesh.

As part of the expansion under Project Cheetah, the big cats will now be relocated in a phased manner to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. The sanctuary shares a border with Rajasthan, and an in-principle agreement has been reached between the two states to establish an inter-state cheetah conservation area.

Special training programs are being conducted for "cheetah mitras" (cheetah friends) at both Kuno National Park (KNP) and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary to strengthen local conservation efforts, reported PTI.

Forest officials reported that Kuno National Park currently houses 26 cheetahs—16 roaming freely in the open forest and 10 in enclosures at the rehabilitation centre. All cheetahs are tracked around the clock using satellite collar IDs.

Female cheetahs Jwala, Asha, Gamini, and Veera have given birth to cubs, and officials noted a significant rise in tourism to KNP, with the number of visitors doubling in the past two years.

The Madhya Pradesh government has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking permission to begin a cheetah safari in Kuno. Approval from the apex court is essential to initiate safari activities in forest and eco-sensitive zones. A decision on the petition is awaited.

The cheetah reintroduction project began with the historic translocation of eight cheetahs (five females and three males) from Namibia to KNP on September 17, 2022—the first intercontinental translocation of the species. In February 2023, an additional 12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa.

Kuno National Park is now home to a total of 26 cheetahs, including 14 cubs born in India.

(With inputs from PTI)

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