8 cheetahs to arrive in MP from Botswana on Feb 28

 

 

 

The world’s first inter-continental translocation of a large carnivore, Cheetah project is going to gain momentum very soon. This month, new batch of eight majestic cheetahs is all set to touch down on Indian soil. As ‘The Hitavada’ reported earlier ‘Eight cheetahs are expected to be brought to the state from Botswana’, now it is officially announced that eight new big cats will be brought to the State by the end of this month. With this, the State is set to make a major push in wildlife conservation with plans to bring eight cheetahs from Botswana to the State on February 28, alongside efforts to introduce wild buffalo from Assam into its forests. These initiatives aim to boost biodiversity, expand forest reserves, and promote eco-tourism across the State. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, who was in Delhi on Wednesday said his Government is also working to translocate many other wildlife species to the State. The State has ‘immense potential’ in wildlife conservation.

 

“With the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the support of the Central Government, the Madhya Pradesh is taking unprecedented steps to protect and nurture its wildlife,” the Chief Minister added. Dr Yadav recently met Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi to discuss the relocation of wild buffalo from Assam and the preparations for the cheetahs’ arrival. Eight cheetahs are expected to arrive from Botswana on February 28. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the Central Government’s support, while the Union Minister praised Madhya Pradesh’s initiatives and assured full cooperation. With the arrival of these species, the State is emerging as a key hub for wildlife restoration and ecological conservation. Notably it will be the third batch of cheetahs. Four years ago, the cheetah reintroduction project was launched in the Kuno National Park (KNP) located in Sheopur district.

 

Eight Cheetahs were translocated from Namibia to the wildlife sanctuary on September 17, 2022. This historic moment, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, heralded Project Cheetah. In the second phase, 12 cheetahs were translocated from South Africa (next year 2023). Although nine adults died so far but survival rate is still a sigh of relif at present its population has crossed more than 30. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary has already been set up as second home for this species. After 2024, Phase-wise releases from acclimatisation bomas into open wilderness begin; soft-release protocols followed internationally. This third batch is arriving as an expansion of the programme from Botswana and to extend to additional habitats beyond Kuno. In November 2025, Botswana gifted eight cheetahs to India.