India is set to welcome eight more cheetahs from Botswana in two phases, with the first group of four expected to arrive by May, according to a recent update from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). This was disclosed during a review meeting of the cheetah reintroduction project held in Bhopal, attended by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
Efforts are also ongoing to bring additional cheetahs from countries like South Africa and Kenya, with discussions on a bilateral agreement with Kenya currently underway.
So far, over ₹112 crore has been invested in the cheetah project, with nearly two-thirds of the funds directed towards rehabilitation efforts in Madhya Pradesh. The Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary has been identified as the next site for cheetah relocation under the project’s phased expansion. Situated close to the Rajasthan border, the sanctuary will form part of an inter-state conservation zone, following a preliminary agreement between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Authorities are also focusing on community involvement by training local volunteers, known as “cheetah mitras”, to support conservation work in both Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
Currently, Kuno National Park houses 26 cheetahs—16 roaming freely in the forest and 10 in managed enclosures. These animals are under constant surveillance through satellite collars. Notably, four female cheetahs—Jwala, Asha, Gamini, and Veera—have successfully given birth, contributing to the growing population. Visitor numbers to the park have reportedly doubled in the last two years.
The Madhya Pradesh government has also approached the Supreme Court seeking approval to launch a cheetah safari in Kuno. This clearance is required to begin tourism activities in protected or eco-sensitive regions.
The reintroduction of cheetahs began in September 2022 with the arrival of eight individuals from Namibia, followed by 12 more from South Africa in February 2023. The current population in Kuno includes 14 cubs born on Indian soil.
