Two female cheetahs from Botswana were recently set free in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, bringing the total number of roaming cheetahs in the park to 16. The Cheetah Project’s Field Director in Madhya Pradesh confirmed the successful release of the cheetahs, emphasizing that ongoing monitoring will ensure their safety and seamless adaptation to the environment. This release marks a significant milestone in the project, with all cheetahs reported to be healthy and thriving in their new habitat.
The recent addition of the two female cheetahs follows the release of a group of cheetahs from Botswana earlier this year, as part of the project’s third phase. The cheetahs undergo a meticulous process of acclimatization to Indian conditions, starting from quarantine to soft-release enclosures before being set free into the wild. The project’s objective is to establish a sustainable population of cheetahs in India, where the species was declared extinct in 1952 due to various threats.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had previously overseen the release of two female cheetahs into the wilderness from their quarantine enclosure at Kuno. The cheetah reintroduction initiative also saw the birth of four cubs in Kuno, although a recent incident involving the death of these cubs raised concerns. Despite this setback, the project continues to progress towards its goal of reviving the cheetah population in the region.
