Eight cheetahs are scheduled to arrive at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district from Botswana on February 28, as part of India’s Translocation Project Cheetah. This marks the third major translocation of cheetahs from Africa under the project, with six females and two males aimed at bolstering the reintroduced population in India, where the species vanished nearly seven decades ago.
The cheetahs will be flown to India via a special aircraft and then transported from Gwalior to Kuno using two Indian Air Force helicopters. Departing at 8.30 a.m., the helicopters are expected to touch down at Kuno around 9.30 a.m. to facilitate the operation.
To ensure a smooth transition, five helipads have been readied within the park. Upon arrival, the cheetahs will undergo necessary immigration, customs, and veterinary checks, in addition to security clearances. Subsequently, they will be housed in specially designed enclosures for a quarantine period of approximately one month for acclimatization and health monitoring.
Under Project Cheetah, which commenced in 2022, Kuno National Park has been witnessing a rise in its cheetah population. The project’s focus has shifted from initial reintroduction to long-term establishment and breeding, with eight out of the 12 cheetahs brought from South Africa last year thriving in Kuno.
