Botswana gifts 8 cheetahs to India as Project Cheetah expands
Botswana gifts 8 cheetahs to India as Project Cheetah expands
Botswana hands over eight cheetahs to India to bolster Project Cheetah, with arrivals at Mokolodi Nature Reserve and plans to join Kuno National Park.
Eight cheetahs gifted by Botswana to India mark a milestone for Project Cheetah, as the two countries advance a shared goal of restoring the cheetah to its historic Indian homeland. The handover ceremony, held at Mokolodi Nature Reserve, saw President Droupadi Murmu accept the felines, a mix of adults and sub-adults, who will be the latest arrivals to India’s growing conservation program. The transfer is part of a broader translocation initiative agreed by the two governments to bolster populations of the world’s fastest land animal.
Five of the eight cheetahs are slated to be released into a quarantine facility at Mokolodi ahead of a planned move to Kuno National Park, where India has been working to establish a viable, free-ranging population. The project aims to reestablish cheetahs in habitats once home to the species and to create a model for regional collaboration on wildlife preservation. The handover underscores a commitment to conservation, science-based management, and international partnership.
Officials briefing Murmu and Botswana authorities highlighted the careful steps being taken to ensure the cats' wellbeing, from health checks to acclimatization measures. As India expands its cheetah program, the addition of these eight animals brings the national tally to 35, signaling growing confidence in the program’s ability to reintroduce an apex predator into landscapes that need it.
Cover image source: India, Botswana announce cheetah translocation pact; President Murmu says ‘will take good care of them’ 🔗
