Botswana is set to send eight Cheetahs to Kuno, marking another big moment for India’s push to bring these big cats back. The new arrivals are set to touch down at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on February 28. Once they’re here, India’s cheetah population will hit 46, a big step for a species that disappeared from the country almost seven decades ago. Officials say six females and two males will make the trip from Botswana, and they’re not taking any chances with safety or health; the cheetahs will travel under strict security and close watch from veterinarians.

Third Batch from Africa

This batch is the third group of cheetahs arriving from Africa. The first eight came from Namibia back in September 2022, and then twelve more landed from South Africa in February 2023. Now, with the Botswana cheetahs on the way, global partnerships in wildlife conservation keep getting stronger.

Subharanjan Sen, Madhya Pradesh’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), explained the plan: the cheetahs will land in Gwalior on an Indian Air Force plane, then hop onto helicopters for the ride to Kuno National Park in Sheopur district. They should arrive around 9:30 am on February 28.

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Population Expansion and Its Problems

The Cheetah Reintroduction Program has had successes and problems at the same time. Since 2023, a total of 39 cubs have been born at Kuno National Park (KNP), out of which only 27 of them have survived. Last year, there were 12 cub births, and 6 cheetahs died, including three cubs. Between 7 February and 18 February of this year, 8 cubs were born in separate litters on the two dates.

The cheetahs, Jwala and Aasha, were both born in Namibia and are the parents of all cubs born to them in KNP, while Gamini, Veera, and Nirva were all born in South Africa, along with Mukhi, who is from India. The three cheetahs will be moved to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur District in order to improve habitat distribution.

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Improvement of India’s Cheetah Restorations Programme

The cheetah, known as the fastest land mammal in the world, disappeared from India decades ago due to hunting and habitat destruction. The project is now working to not only return free-ranging populations of cheetahs to India, but also to establish populations of cheetahs that can live in the wild for sustained periods and reproduce in genetically viable ways in as many locations as possible with suitable habitat.

Botswana is set to send eight Cheetahs to Kuno on February 28, which is considered a pivotal moment for the restoration of wildlife in India. The growing number of cubs that survive in Kuno due to good planning and fostering international partnerships demonstrates the progress that India is making in a long-term commitment to secure the future of this iconic big cat.

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