India to Welcome Eight More Cheetahs from Africa Under Project Cheetah:

The ongoing efforts of Project Cheetah will see the addition of another eight cheetahs from South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya, which India is expected to receive in May 2025.

Updates from Project Cheetah Review Meeting

These arrangements were made at a review meeting in Bhopal with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, and NTCA officials.

According to the release from the Madhya Pradesh government, the NTCA is actively pursuing a contract with Kenya for the second batch of cheetahs.

Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary to Be New Relocation Site

Located at the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh border, the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is being proposed as the next location for cheetah relocation. Both states have signed an inter-state agreement to create a joint conservation region.

For the purpose of this project, demonstrative training sessions for “cheetah mitras” are being held at Kuno National Park (KNP) and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.

Spending Rs 112 Crore on the Project So Far

As far as officials detailed, expenditure on Project Cheetah has crossed Rs 112 crore with 67% earmarked for rehabilitation works within Madhya Pradesh. Such activities are crucial to the successful integration and assimilation of cheetahs into Indian ecosystem.

Population of Cheetahs in Kuno National Park

Currently, Kuno National Park has a population of 26 cheetas, out of which 16 reside in the open forest while the other ten are kept in cages. Forest department officials confirmed that four female cheetahs in Jwala Asha Gamini and Veera have had cubs.

Since the commencement of the project, there has been an increase of 100 percent in the number of tourists visiting KNP in the past 2 years which indicates that the public is concerned about the conservation of wildlife.

History of Cheetah Translocation

The first batch of eight Namibian cheetahs consisting of five females and three males were hosted at KNP from September 17, 2022, marking the first intercontinental relocation of cheetahs. In February 2023 another 12 cheetahs from South Africa were brought to KNP.