New Delhi, Nov 3 (UNI) Eight new cheetahs will be brought from Botswana to India in the third week of December, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said today.
He informed reporters about the arrival of the fresh batch of big cats after the conclusion of an event. He was briefing the media about the upcoming COP30 conference.
“They will be quarantined in Kuno as per international protocol,” he added.
Highlighting the success of Project Cheetah, launched nearly three years ago, he said the ‘’third generation of Namibian cheetahs, Mukhi, reached adulthood recently, while the cub born to South African-origin parents will also reach the milestone in another three to four months.’’
Mukhi, a female cub born to Namibian Cheetah Jwala on March 29, 2023, turned 30 months old reaching adulthood on September 30, a crucial milestone for creating a self-sustaining population.
Under the Project Cheetah, a total of 20 Cheetahs were translocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Eight of them were introduced in the first batch that came from Namibia in September 2022 while the remaining 12 came from South Africa in February 2023.
Since the inception of the Project, 26 cubs were born at Kuno, of which the 10 Indian born cubs and 9 imported adults have died, bringing down the total feline number to 27. Among the surviving population, 24 are housed at Kuno National Park and three at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Amid the losses, the Cheetah population in India has shown an upward tick with seven more Cheetahs than were initially imported. Calling it a big success, officials have managed to convince the African nation, Namibia, to send eight more.
