Model Answer

Introduction

Project Cheetah — India's programme to reintroduce the cheetah after its extinction in 1952 — and the recent announcement to translocate eight cheetahs from Botswana (with five to be quarantined at Mokolodi) exemplify how India is blending conservation science with diplomacy.

Body

India's collaboration with Botswana and earlier with Namibia demonstrates pragmatic South-South cooperation: it sources living animals, technical know-how and field experience from African range countries that have restored viable cheetah populations. Such partnerships signal a shift from purely domestic conservation to transnational, science-driven initiatives where expertise (habitat suitability assessments, veterinary protocols, quarantine practices) and resources are shared. The use of quarantine at Mokolodi highlights attention to biosecurity and veterinary ethics, reducing disease risks during translocation. Diplomatically, these exchanges function as soft power — ecological diplomacy that strengthens bilateral ties while projecting India as a responsible actor in global biodiversity restoration.

At the operational level, success hinges on complementary measures: rigorous habitat management in India, anti-poaching networks, long-term population monitoring, genetic management to avoid inbreeding, and community participation through incentives and awareness. The initiative also foregrounds challenges — logistics of long-distance translocation, ensuring ecological carrying capacity, and sustaining funds and political will — which require sustained international scientific collaboration and domestic policy support.

Conclusion/Way Forward

Thus, Project Cheetah reflects a holistic approach where diplomacy, science and community engagement converge — turning wildlife conservation into a platform for international cooperation and nation-building, aligned with global biodiversity goals.