Bhopal: India is set to welcome eight cheetahs from Botswana in two phases under the ongoing Project Cheetah, with the first batch of four expected to arrive by May, officials from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) confirmed during a review meeting in Bhopal on Friday.
The meeting, chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, also discussed efforts to bring more cheetahs from South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya. Discussions are underway to finalize a formal agreement with Kenya.
So far, over ₹112 crore has been spent on the cheetah reintroduction programme, with nearly 67% of the funds allocated to rehabilitation efforts in Madhya Pradesh.
Expansion to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
The project is set to expand beyond Kuno National Park (KNP), with plans to relocate cheetahs in a phased manner to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, located near the Rajasthan border. An in-principle agreement has been reached between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to establish an inter-state cheetah conservation area.
To support the initiative, local volunteers, known as “cheetah mitras”, are being trained at both Kuno and Gandhi Sagar to enhance monitoring and conservation efforts.
Current Status at Kuno
Kuno National Park currently hosts 26 cheetahs, including 14 India-born cubs. Of these, 16 roam freely in the open forest, while 10 remain in rehabilitation enclosures. Female cheetahs Jwala, Asha, Gamini, and Veera have successfully given birth, and all cheetahs are monitored around the clock using satellite collar tracking.
The state government has also petitioned the Supreme Court seeking approval to begin a cheetah safari in Kuno. Permission is required for safaris within forest or eco-sensitive zones, and a decision is currently pending.
India’s cheetah reintroduction journey began in September 2022 with the arrival of eight cheetahs from Namibia, followed by 12 more from South Africa in February 2023. The initiative marks the world’s first intercontinental cheetah translocation effort.
