New Delhi: Milkha, Chetak, Vayu, Svasti and Twara are some of the names that people have suggested for the eight cheetahs Prime Minister Narendra Modi released in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park on his birthday on September 17, news agency PTI reported. In his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, PM Modi asked citizens to take part in contests on the MyGov platform to suggest names for the animals and the re-introduction project.
The cheetahs have been brought from Namibia as part of India’s ambitious programme to bring the big cat back from extinction.
The MyGov platform has so far received more than 750 submissions suggesting names such as Veer, Pnaki, Bhairav, Brahma, Rudra, Durga, Gouri, Bhadra, Shakti, Brahaspati, Chinmayi, Chatura, Vira, Raksha, Medha and Mayur among others for the animals.
For the reintroduction project, more than 800 people suggested titles such as ‘Kuno ka Kundan’, ‘Mission Chitrak’, ‘Chirayu’ and ‘Chitwal’.
Notably, the cheetah has come back to India 70 years after the species was declared extinct in the country in 1952 largely due to coursing, sport hunting, overhunting and habitat loss.
