With assistance from the Indian Air Force, the animals were flown to Gwalior and then moved by helicopter to Kuno.
India’s Cheetah Population Reaches 48 as 9 from Botswana Arrive at Kuno
India’s cheetah conservation programme reached another milestone on Friday, with nine cheetahs from Botswana brought to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, taking the country’s total population to 48, including 28 cubs born in India, according to official information.
Launched in September 2022, Project Cheetah is an intercontinental conservation initiative aimed at reintroducing the species to India, where it was officially declared extinct in 1952.
The newly arrived group, including six females and three males, has been placed in quarantine enclosures where they will undergo health checks and acclimatisation before a phased release into the wild. Officials said the monitoring period is aimed at ensuring the animals adapt safely to local conditions.
The translocation follows months of coordination between Indian and Botswanan authorities under Project Cheetah, India’s flagship initiative to reintroduce the species decades after it was declared extinct in the country. Discussions between the two governments began in late 2024, followed by scientific assessments and logistical planning through 2025.
The cheetahs were identified in Botswana’s Ghanzi region and transported under veterinary supervision to Gaborone before being airlifted to India. With assistance from the Indian Air Force, the animals were flown to Gwalior and then moved by helicopter to Kuno.
