Gwalior: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav welcomed nine Botswana cheetahs at Kuno National Park, raising India’s total cheetah population to 48, including 28 India-born cubs.
He released the animals into quarantine enclosures on February 28. The cheetahs include six females and three males. They will undergo acclimatisation and health monitoring before gradual release into the larger landscape.
In a post on X, the Minister described the arrival as a milestone for Project Cheetah. He said the initiative, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, has strengthened wildlife restoration efforts. After earlier translocations from Namibia and South Africa, the Botswana cheetahs mark another phase in the programme.
Botswana cheetahs bolster Project Cheetah expansion
The government initiated formal talks with Botswana in December 2024 to source additional animals. Officials advanced the proposal in consultation with Botswana’s Environment and Tourism Ministry. Both sides agreed to collaborate based on India’s Action Plan for Cheetah Reintroduction.
An Indian delegation visited Botswana in September 2025 to finalise logistics and regulatory clearances. Authorities identified eight cheetahs in the Ghanzi region and transported them about 700 kilometres to Gaborone under veterinary supervision. Later, the animals underwent quarantine at Mokolodi Nature Reserve.
On February 27, 2026, officials transported the cheetahs to Gaborone Airport. With support from the Indian Air Force, a C-17 aircraft airlifted them to Gwalior. Subsequently, helicopters shifted them to Kuno National Park.
Yadav thanked the Indian Air Force for ensuring safe and seamless transport. He said strong global partnerships and scientific oversight continue to guide Project Cheetah. The successful induction of Botswana cheetahs, he added, reinforces India’s resolve to build a sustainable, free-ranging cheetah population.
