Nod to translocate Botswana cheetahs likely in Jan-Feb, Pg5

Key Highlights:

• Five African cheetahs from Botswana are set to be translocated to India under Project Cheetah in early 2026.
• Permissions for the translocation are expected between January and February.
• Key tasks include arranging suitable aircraft and obtaining CITES export permits.
• The cheetahs will be released either in Kuno National Park or Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
• Botswana has an estimated 1,700-2,000 cheetahs.

Detailed Insights:

• The translocation follows President Murmu's state visit to Botswana in November, where she witnessed the capture of cheetahs for quarantine.
• A delegation from Botswana has already visited both Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary to assess management practices.
• Permissions are also required from the Department of Animal Husbandry for quarantine formalities upon arrival in India.
• Currently, 14 cheetahs are in the wild at Kuno National Park, 13 are in enclosures, and 3 are in Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary.
• Project Cheetah aims to reintroduce cheetahs to India, where they went extinct decades ago, to restore the ecosystem.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Translocation: The process of moving animals from one area to another.
• CITES: An international agreement regulating trade in endangered species.
• Quarantine: Isolation to prevent the spread of disease.