India announced translocation of 8 African cheetahs to strengthen Project Cheetah, during first-ever Presidential visit from India to Botswana. Botswana symbolically handed over cheetahs, with 5 quarantined at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, a major conservation landscape.

Key Highlights

• All 8 cheetahs are currently inside Mokolodi; only 2 were symbolically presented in front of both heads of state.
• Cheetahs (adult & sub-adult) were sourced from Ghanzi region (Kalahari Desert zone, 70% of Botswana’s landmass).
• Mokolodi Reserve (est. 1994)- 3,700 hectares, home to rhinos, giraffes, rare African birds and reptiles.
• Expected to reach India in two phases, after completing quarantine.
• After arriving in India- 2–3 months quarantine– phased release into wild.

Expansion of Release Sites

Currently:

• Kuno National Park (748 sq km), MP- main site.

Planned expansion:

• Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, MP
• Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan

Purpose: Reduce overcrowding, improve survival, and create multiple sustainable metapopulations.

Project Cheetah: World’s First Intercontinental Carnivore Translocation

About Project Cheetah

• Launched: 2022
• Under: Project Tiger framework
• Aim: Reintroduce cheetahs, extinct in India since 1952– after the last cheetah was shot in Chhattisgarh.
• Nations involved: Namibia, South Africa, Botswana

Project Goals

• Restore savanna & grassland ecosystems
• Strengthen ecotourism & local livelihoods
• Enhance genetic diversity
• Reduce human–wildlife conflict via community awareness
• Rebuild top carnivore ecological pyramid

Numbers Till Date

• 20 cheetahs translocated earlier:
  • 8 from Namibia (Sept 2022)
  • 12 from South Africa (2023)
• India now has 27 cheetahs, including 16 cubs born in India.

Governance Structure

• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) – Nodal agency
• In collaboration with:
  • Madhya Pradesh Forest Department
  • Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
• A Steering Committee (2023) created for adaptive management & scientific oversight
• Over 350 Cheetah Mitras deployed for community engagement

Existing & Proposed Cheetah Habitats

• Kuno National Park (present release site)
• Gandhi Sagar WLS (upcoming release)
• Mukundra Hills TR (Rajasthan – proposed)
• Nauradehi WLS (MP – under consideration)

About Cheetah

Taxonomy

• Common Name: Cheetah
• Scientific Name: Acinonyx jubatus
• Subspecies:
  • Acinonyx jubatus jubatus– African Cheetah
  • Acinonyx jubatus venaticus– Asiatic Cheetah

African Cheetah vs Asiatic Cheetah

Feature	African Cheetah	Asiatic Cheetah
Colour	Browner, golden	Pale, sandy fawn
Build	Slightly bigger	Slightly smaller
Distribution	Widely in Africa	Only in Iran (≈12 left)
IUCN Status	Vulnerable	Critically Endangered
India Status	Reintroduced	Extinct since 1952

Important Timeline

• First proposal for reintroduction: 2009
• Action Plan released at NTCA meeting: Jan 2022
• First batch arrival from Namibia: 17 Sept 2022

About Botswana

Geography

• Landlocked country in Southern Africa
• Borders:
  • South Africa (S & E)
  • Namibia (W)
  • Zimbabwe (E)
• Kalahari Desert covers 70% of the country
• Dominated by savanna grasslands
• Home to ancient baobab trees (>2,000 years old)

Major Natural Attractions

• Okavango Delta – UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Chobe National Park – home to over 50,000 elephants (one of the largest herds on Earth)

Conservation

• 17% of land- national parks/game reserves
• Mokolodi Nature Reserve (1994): private, non-profit, key conservation site

Economy

• Largest contributor: Diamonds (≈20% of world production)
• Stable governance & high per-capita income in Africa

Ecological Significance of Cheetah Reintroduction

• Cheetahs are apex predators of grassland ecosystems.
• Help maintain herbivore numbers → prevents overgrazing → protects soil & vegetation.
• Their presence indicates healthy savanna ecosystems.
• Boosts eco-tourism and local economy in MP & Rajasthan.

Kuno National Park

• Located: Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh
• Declared National Park: 2018
• Core area: 748 sq km
• Originally prepared for relocation of Asiatic lions
• Part of central Indian dry deciduous ecosystem

World’s Cheetah Distribution

• Present in: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Iran
• Historically found from: Africa-  Middle East-  India

India’s Grassland/Savanna Ecosystems

Cheetah reintroduction aims to create balanced predator-prey dynamics within these habitats.

Key types:

• Aravalli grasslands
• Deccan savanna
• Gangetic semi-arid savannas

Threats:

• Habitat fragmentation
• Invasive plant species
• Overgrazing
• Agriculture expansion

Iconic Grassland Species in India

• Indian wolf
• Blackbuck
• Great Indian Bustard
• Caracal
• Desert fox