New Delhi: India will soon be home to eight more African cheetahs, taking the population up to 34.
The cheetahs, to be brought from Botswana in southern Africa, will arrive in two phases soon, including four next month, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officials were quoted as saying in a Madhya Pradesh government press release.
NTCA officials held a review meeting of Project Cheetah with Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday.
“Efforts are underway to bring more cheetahs from South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya to India. Eight cheetahs will be brought to India in two phases. There is a plan to bring four cheetahs from Botswana to India by May. After this, four more cheetahs will be brought. At present, consent is being developed on an agreement between India and Kenya,” NTCA said.
Currently, there are 26 cheetahs at MP’s Kuno National Park (KNP), including 16 in open forest and 10 in rehabilitation centre (enclosures).
Relocation plan
However, there is a plan to relocate the cheetahs.
“Under Project Cheetah, cheetahs will now be relocated in a phased manner to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. The sanctuary is adjacent to the border of Rajasthan, so an in-principle agreement has been reached between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to establish an inter-state cheetah conservation area,” the release said.
A group of ‘Cheetah Mitras’ have been identified and are being provided special training in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary to enhance their capacity.
NTCA officials informed that around Rs 112 crore has been spent on Project Cheetah so far, of which 67 per cent accounted for the rehabilitation of the animals in Madhya Pradesh.
To monitor the cheetahs, a 24-hour tracking system using satellite collar IDs is in place.
Cheetah safari on cards
Animal lovers may soon be able to go on cheetah safaris.
“The (MP) state government has filed a petition in Supreme Court seeking permission to start cheetah safari in Kuno. This permission is necessary to start safari in forest areas or eco-sensitive zones,” NTCA said, adding that the top court is yet to deliberate on the issue.
Eight Namibian cheetahs — five females and three males — were first released in KNP on September 17, 2022, in what was the first-ever intercontinental translocation of the big cats.
In February 2023, 12 more cheetahs were brought from South Africa to KNP, which has 26 cheetahs, including 14 India-born cubs.
Jwala, Asha, Gamini and Veera gave birth to cubs, helping double the number of cheetahs in India in two years.
