Madhya Pradesh is gearing up for a wildlife milestone as Chief Minister Mohan Yadav confirmed the arrival of eight cheetahs from Botswana on February 28. This third consignment underscores India’s commitment to reviving the cheetah population, revealed after his meeting with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav.
The agenda included boosting eco-tourism, enlarging forest reserves, and bolstering conservation strategies. Yadav briefed the minister on logistics for the cheetahs and requested central assistance to ensure seamless integration.
‘We’re advancing plans to import wild buffaloes from Assam alongside this cheetah batch. Discussions focused on critical support for their February 28 landing,’ the CM told reporters in Delhi.
Launched at Kuno National Park, the project imported eight cheetahs from Namibia in 2022 and 12 from South Africa in 2023. Though nine adults have perished, cub births have swelled numbers to over 30.
Diversifying habitats, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary now serves as the second home. Cheetahs Prabhas, Pavak, and Dhira have already been shifted there. A recent Botswana delegation vetted infrastructure like enclosures and medical units, giving a thumbs-up.
As preparations peak, this influx promises to accelerate cheetah conservation, drawing global attention to India’s rewilding success story and enhancing biodiversity in central India.