Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday released two cheetahs brought from Botswana into an open forest in Kono National Park after their quarantine period ended.
The Prime Minister said on the occasion that the reintroduction of cheetahs brought from Nigeria, South Africa and now Botswana is achieving continued success and today Madhya Pradesh has received national recognition as the ‘Cheetah State’.
Yadav released the female leopards, with identification numbers CCV-2 and CCV-3, at a site on the banks of the Kuno river.
This will give impetus to the ‘Cheetah Project’ and add another important chapter to the history of wildlife conservation in India, an official said.
The goal of the cheetah project is to restore endangered animal species in the state, increase their numbers, and prepare them for hunting and free roaming.
CM Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh has embraced leopards and made them a part of its family.
“The cheetah reproduction project in Kuno was launched about three and a half years ago by the famous Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is progressing successfully. Madhya Pradesh is setting new records in this important project,” the Prime Minister said.
He noted that Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a major hub for religion, investment and genetic biodiversity.
After the release of the two leopards, CM Yadav toured Kuno National Park.
Nine cheetahs – six females and three males – brought from Botswana to Kono in February were kept in small enclosures to allow them to adapt to local conditions. They have now completed their quarantine period.
With the arrival of these cheetahs, the total number of cheetahs in India, including locally born cubs, has risen to 57, the official said.
This is the third major international phase of “Project Cheetah”.
Earlier, eight cheetahs were brought to India from Namibia on September 17, 2022, while 12 cheetahs arrived in Kono from South Africa in 2023.
Wildlife experts believe that cheetahs from Botswana bring greater genetic diversity, which will help develop a healthy and sustainable population in Qunu.
They also expressed their hope that these cheetahs would quickly integrate into the Quno environment.
The official added that after completing the quarantine and acclimatization process, preparations are being made to shift some leopards to other reserves such as Gandhi Sagar and Nooradehi in MP.
