Cheetahs from SA were released into the Kuno National Park in India this week
Image: IANS
Gamini, a female cheetah from South Africa, was released into the wilderness of the Kuno National Park (KNP) in India.
Five more members of the magnificent cheetah family were set to roam free in the wilderness of the KNP in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh.
The Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Mohan Yadav, made the announcement on X this week.
Gamini was accompanied by her two male and two female cubs, marking another milestone in the conservation efforts at the park's Khajuri tourism zone.
Yadav highlighted that this rare opportunity to see cheetahs thriving in their natural habitat during safaris is expected to attract more visitors and significantly boost tourism.
He reaffirmed the state's commitment to taking wildlife conservation and tourism to greater heights.
In February, four cheetahs, including a mother and her three cubs, were released into the wild in Kuno National Park after spending a year in captivity.
The release took place during a special event organised by the state Forest Department, which was also attended by the Chief Minister.
According to Kuno officials, preparations for releasing cheetahs into the open forest were meticulously supervised by a steering committee and senior forest experts.
This was the third time that cheetahs were released into an open boma (enclosure) at KNP.
Notably, one of the cheetahs, a five-year-old female named Veera, recently gave birth to two healthy cubs.
With this latest release, a total of seven out of the 12 adult cheetahs at KNP would be living freely in the park.
In December 2024, two male cheetahs, Vayu and Agni, were successfully released into the wild. The Chief Minister emphasised the positive ripple effect of these efforts, noting that the growing cheetah population is fostering tourism and creating new employment opportunities in the state.
"With the rise in cheetah numbers, Madhya Pradesh is witnessing a surge in tourism, opening new doors for livelihoods. We remain steadfast in our dedication to wildlife conservation, promotion, and restoration," said Yadav.
India’s ambitious ‘Project Cheetah’ began after cheetahs had been extinct in the country for 70 years.
On September 17, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the project by releasing the first batch of eight cheetahs from Namibia into KNP.
The second group of 12 cheetahs followed in February 2023, arriving from South Africa. Plans for a third batch of 18 cheetahs were expected to arrive from South Africa in February 2025. But it has faced delays as authorities await progress reports. The new group is anticipated to be relocated to both Kuno National Park in Sheopur and Gandhi Sagar in Mandsaur.
These efforts showcase India's steadfast commitment to restoring the cheetah population and strengthening wildlife conservation.