9 cheetahs from Botswana released into Kuno National Park

thehitavada.com · Mar 1, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Staff Reporter :BHOPAL :India’s ambitious cheetah revival program reached a new milestone on Saturday as nine more cheetahs from Botswana landed safely at the Kuno National Park (KNP). This third batch from Africa, consisting of six females and three males, brings the total count of big cats in the country to 48. Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav, ceremoniously released three of the new arrivals into specially prepared quarantine enclosures. Speaking on the occasion, Yadav stated that the arrival of these cheetahs marks the beginning of a historic partnership between Botswana and India in biodiversity conservation. Under the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the project to reintroduce cheetahs in India has been a resounding success.Over the last three and a half years, the cheetah family has continued to grow, and today we have 48 cheetahs in India, 45 at Kuno and 3 at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary,” the Minister said. Strategic Airlift and Logistics: The cheetahs were flown from Botswana to Gwalior on a heavy-lift Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. From Gwalior, three IAF helicopters transported the animals directly to KNP in Sheopur. Following the release, the Union Minister met with the team of cheetah experts from Botswana and presented them with mementoes on behalf of the park administration. Project Cheetah Director Uttam Sharma noted that the IAF has been a critical partner in the program, having previously assisted in the translocation of big cats from Namibia in 2022 and South Africa in 2023.The project has seen encouraging results in breeding. Since 2023, 39 cubs have been born at KNP, with 27 of them surviving. Most recently, nine cubs were born in two separate litters between February 7 and 18. To mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks, wildlife officials are diversifying habitats. Currently, 36 cheetahs remain at Kuno, while three have been relocated to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Experts emphasise that spreading the population across different habitats is essential for the long-term survival of the endangered species. The minister highlighted that India’s efforts have gained international recognition, with 97 countries now joining the global platform for biodiversity conservation. The event was attended by various dignitaries, including New and Renewable Energy Minister Rakesh Shukla, MP Shivmangal Singh Tomar and senior forest officials.