Nine cheetahs from Botswana, comprising six females and three males, were released into Madhya Pradesh Kuno National Park on February 28, marking a pivotal milestone in India reintroduction of the species extinct here since 1952. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav hailed the event as bestowing global Cheetah State identity on his state, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi vision and thanking Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav for the release.
Launched in 2022, Project Cheetah has translocated cats from Namibia, South Africa and now Botswana, pushing India total to 48 including recent cubs like Aasha five offspring in February. Dr Yadav, absent due to Delhi commitments on development and welfare, expressed personal regret at missing the historic moment while congratulating the team, Madhya Pradesh residents and nation. Kuno, once mired in controversy over lion relocation, has emerged as cheetah hub with enclosures yielding third generation cubs, validating adaptive management amid high initial mortalities.
This batch arrives amid breeding successes: 24 surviving Indian born cubs signal self sustaining potential, though challenges like territorial conflicts and prey scarcity persist. Botswana donation, formalised during President Murmu 2025 visit, underscores bilateral wildlife diplomacy, with cheetahs quarantined at Mokolodi before IAF transport to Gwalior and helicopter drop at Kuno.
Environmentally, rewilding cheetahs restores grassland ecosystems, curbing overgrazing by regulating herbivores and boosting biodiversity tourism. Economically, Kuno could mirror Ranthambore revenue model, funding conservation via eco stays and safaris while creating jobs in Sheopur tribal areas. Dr Yadav past releases, like Veera and cubs on Cheetah Day 2025, position Madhya Pradesh as flagship steward.
Sustained success demands vigilance: anti poaching grids, prey augmentation via blackbuck relocation, and soft releases to acclimatise cats. Namibia South Africa batches faced 50 percent adult mortality; Botswana cohort must fare better through monitored enclosures before free ranging.
Project Cheetah transcends translocation; it embodies Modi government audacious ecological restoration, blending science, diplomacy and political will. If Kuno 48 cheetahs thrive, Madhya Pradesh Cheetah State tag will symbolise India resolve to reclaim lost megafauna, inspiring global extinction reversal efforts.
