Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav has released nine cheetahs received from Botswana into quarantine enclosures at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The animals will undergo acclimatization and health monitoring before being gradually released into the larger landscape. Yadav welcomed the arrival of six female and three male cheetahs from Botswana in a social media post.
Yadav expressed his excitement over the addition of these cheetahs to the park, following the previous introductions of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa. He highlighted India’s success in the Project Cheetah under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s environmentally conscious leadership, with a current population of 39 cheetahs, including 28 cubs born in India. The Minister also acknowledged the Indian Air Force for their role in ensuring the safe transportation of the cheetahs to India.
The Indian government, under Yadav’s initiative, engaged in discussions with the Government of Botswana in December 2024 to acquire cheetahs for Project Cheetah. This collaboration, led by Yadav and Boipuso Wynter Mmolotsi, Minister of Environment and Tourism of Botswana, aims to strengthen global partnerships and scientific oversight for the conservation project. The successful arrival of cheetahs from Botswana underscores India’s commitment to establishing a sustainable cheetah population and contributing to global conservation efforts.
