8 new cheetahs to be brought to India from Botswana, first 4 to arrive by May

Eight cheetahs will be brought to India from Botswana in southern Africa in two phases, with the first four expected to arrive by May, reported PTI on Saturday.

The information was shared during a Project Cheetah review meeting in Bhopal on Friday, in the presence of Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

The meeting was attended by officials of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, PTI quoted a press release from the Madhya Pradesh government as saying.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority operates under the Union environment ministry. It is tasked with the protection of endangered animals and the implementation of Project Cheetah, a conservation effort that began in 2022.

“Efforts are underway to bring more cheetahs from South Africa, Botswana and Kenya to India,” the press release on Friday stated. “Eight cheetahs will be brought to India in two phases. There is a plan to bring four cheetahs from Botswana to India by May. After this, four more cheetahs will be brought. At present, consent is being developed on an agreement between India and Kenya.”

National Tiger Conservation Authority officials said over Rs 112 crore has been spent on Project Cheetah in India so far, with...

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