Third Batch of Cheetahs to Arrive in Kuno From Botswana Under Reintroduction Project

BHOPAL — Eight cheetahs from Botswana are scheduled to arrive at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district on February 28, marking the third major translocation under India’s ambitious Project Cheetah.

The incoming group — comprising six females and two males — is intended to bolster the growing cheetah population in India, where the species was declared extinct nearly 70 years ago.

Officials said the animals will be flown to India aboard a special aircraft and then transported from Gwalior to Kuno using two Indian Air Force helicopters. The helicopters are expected to depart at 8:30 a.m. and reach the park around 9:30 a.m.

Five dedicated helipads have been set up inside the park to facilitate the transfer. Authorities said the operation will follow established scientific, veterinary, and safety protocols.

After arrival, the cheetahs will undergo immigration, customs, and veterinary checks, along with necessary security clearances. They will then be placed in specially prepared enclosures for a quarantine period of approximately one month to allow for acclimatization and close health monitoring.

Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, initially focused on reintroducing the species to India. The emphasis has now shifted toward long-term establishment, breeding, and population expansion.

Kuno National Park already hosts a growing number of cheetahs. Of the 12 animals brought from South Africa last year, eight remain healthy in Kuno, while three have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary as part of a strategy to expand their range.

Breeding efforts have also shown encouraging signs. Ten cubs born to South African-origin females are reported to be surviving. Mukhi, the first adult female cheetah born in captivity at Kuno, has delivered five cubs. Another female, Gamini, has given birth twice — her three sub-adult cubs from the first litter are healthy, and she recently delivered three more cubs.

Veera is currently roaming freely in the forest with her 13-month-old cub, while Nirva is raising her three 10-month-old cubs in a protected enclosure.

With the arrival of the Botswana cheetahs, the total population at Kuno is set to rise further, strengthening India’s long-term conservation objectives and efforts to reestablish a viable wild cheetah population in the country. (Source: IANS)