Eight cheetahs from Botswana set to boost India's rewilding efforts this month

Eight cheetahs from Botswana will arrive in India on February 28, expanding the country's cheetah population. The animals will be translocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, marking the latest step in the country's plan to restore the species after its extinction in 1952. Senior officials, including Union Minister for Forest Bhupender Yadav and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, will attend the event to witness their arrival.

The cheetahs will land at Gwalior airport before being transported by road to Kuno National Park. Upon arrival, they will be placed in specially prepared quarantine enclosures for at least one month. This period is mandatory before any further movement or release into the wild.

Kuno currently houses 32 cheetahs, and the new arrivals will increase the total to 40. The park first reintroduced the species in 2023 with eight individuals from Namibia and Botswana under Project Cheetah. Since then, challenges such as habitat fragmentation, limited prey, and the need for long-term monitoring have shaped the programme's progress.

After quarantine, some of the cheetahs may be relocated to other protected areas. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur, which already has three cheetahs, is expected to receive four more, bringing its count to seven. Meanwhile, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is also preparing to take in at least four animals once the quarantine phase ends.

The translocation will expand India's cheetah population across multiple reserves. Kuno's total will rise to 40, while Gandhi Sagar and Nauradehi will also see new arrivals. Officials continue to monitor the animals' adaptation as part of the broader conservation strategy.