Bhopal:
Madhya Pradesh is set to take another major step in global wildlife conservation with the arrival of eight cheetahs from Botswana on February 28, reinforcing India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme. The move follows close coordination between the state government and the Centre, with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change assuring full logistical and procedural support.
The roadmap for the cheetah transfer was finalised during a high-level meeting between Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav.
Speaking after the meeting, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the discussions extended beyond cheetahs and focused on the state’s extensive reserve forest belt, which plays a key role in tourism, biodiversity conservation, and local livelihoods.
“We discussed the large belt of reserve forests in Madhya Pradesh, which is extremely important for our tourism industry. We also discussed bringing wild buffaloes from other states, particularly Assam, and sought assistance in procedural matters,” the Chief Minister said.
“Cheetahs will also be arriving from Botswana around February 28. We are satisfied that the Madhya Pradesh government, working hand-in-hand with the Government of India, will move forward with all necessary steps to further enhance our wildlife resources,” he added.
Preparations Underway for Smooth Integration
Forest officials said preparations are already underway to ensure smooth quarantine, health monitoring, and phased integration of the incoming cheetahs into India’s expanding cheetah landscape.
The Botswana transfer builds on the momentum of Project Cheetah, which has positioned India at the centre of global conservation efforts.
Between 2022 and 2023, India successfully completed the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore, bringing 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally released the first batch of eight cheetahs at Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022.
India’s Growing Cheetah Population
India currently has 30 cheetahs, including:
- 12 adults
- 9 sub-adults
- 9 cubs
Notably, 19 cheetahs have been born on Indian soil, marking a major conservation milestone. Mukhi, the first cheetah cub born in India, has since become a mother to five healthy cubs, representing a significant second-generation success for the programme.
What began as a closely monitored conservation experiment is now entering a phase-wise expansion. With Botswana joining Namibia and South Africa as a source country, India is steadily enhancing genetic diversity, a key requirement for building a self-sustaining cheetah metapopulation.
Wildlife experts say Madhya Pradesh is central to this long-term vision, with Kuno National Park already supporting a growing cheetah population and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary identified for the next phase of expansion.