Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) – September 17, 2024: India marks a significant milestone with the completion of two years since the reintroduction of Cheetahs under Project Cheetah. This ambitious initiative aims to restore the Cheetah population in India after they were declared extinct in the country in 1952.
The project began on September 17, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight Cheetahs, imported from Namibia, into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district, coinciding with his 72nd birthday.
To commemorate the two-year anniversary, Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, shared a video highlighting the journey and progress of the project. Yadav expressed pride in the achievement, noting the challenges overcome to reintroduce these animals into their historic habitat.
"Two years ago, we embarked on a historic journey to reintroduce cheetahs to India after nearly 70 years. This project, spearheaded by PM Narendra Modi, represents a pioneering global effort to restore lost wildlife populations and ecosystems. The path has not been easy, but we have faced and overcome numerous challenges, from habitat adjustments to ensuring the survival of the cubs," Yadav said on social media.
The video showcased the success of Project Cheetah, reporting that there are now 24 Cheetahs in India, including 12 adults and 12 cubs born in the wild. This marks a significant step toward revitalizing India's biodiversity.
"From Africa to India, these cheetahs are not only surviving but thriving, helping to restore ecological balance and support local ecosystems," the video noted.
In addition to the initial group of eight Cheetahs from Namibia, twelve more cheetahs were brought from South Africa and released into Kuno National Park in February 2023. The successful reintroduction of these animals signals a promising future for the restoration of India’s natural habitats.
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