8 cheetahs on 10-hour flight: India set to get new batch from Botswana

Eight cheetahs from Botswana will be flown into India on Saturday as part of the Centre’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme, taking the total number of the big cats in the country to 46. The animals will be released into quarantine enclosures at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, where officials will closely monitor their health and behaviour before gradually preparing them for life in the wild. The batch, comprising six females and two males, will be airlifted from Botswana to Gwalior on an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, and then transported to Kuno by helicopter. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav are scheduled to oversee the release of the animals into specially prepared enclosures at the park. Project Director Uttam Sharma told The Indian Express that the cheetahs are expected to reach Kuno between 9 am and 10 am on Saturday after an intercontinental flight that takes around 9-10 hours. He said the park has readied multiple quarantine enclosures and five helipads to ensure a smooth and stress-free transfer of the animals. “Our aim will be to boost the cheetah population to over 50. We have not taken a call on shifting the cheetahs to the Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary,” Sharma said. This is the third batch of African cheetahs brought to India under the translocation programme, following earlier introductions from Namibia in September 2022 and South Africa in February 2023. The latest transfer from Botswana is part of a government-to-government agreement aimed at establishing a genetically diverse, free-ranging cheetah population in India over the next decade. Under the protocol, the cheetahs will remain in large, fenced enclosures for about a month. During this period, wildlife veterinarians and forest officials will monitor their feeding patterns, movement, adaptation to local climate, and any signs of stress or disease. Blood samples and health parameters will be assessed regularly. The cheetahs will soon be fitted with GPS satellite collars, which will be checked to ensure real-time tracking once the animals are eventually released into larger soft-release areas. Officials said the enclosure phase is critical to minimise mortality risks, particularly after earlier setbacks in the project. The animals are kept in isolation initially to prevent the spread of disease and to help them acclimatise to Indian prey species and terrain. Only after they demonstrate stable health and hunting behaviour will they be moved to open forest compartments. With the arrival of the Botswana batch, the number of cheetahs in India will rise to 46. At present, 35 cheetahs are housed at Kuno, while three have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks and pressure on a single habitat. India’s cheetah reintroduction programme marks the return of the species nearly 70 years after it was declared extinct in the country. Since 2023, 39 cubs have been born at Kuno, of which 27 have survived. Officials said that last year saw mixed outcomes, with 12 cubs born but six, including three cubs, failing to survive. This year, eight cubs were born in two litters between February 7 and February 18. Wildlife officials announced that Gamini, which recently gave birth to three cubs, has also given birth to an additional cub. Namibia-born Jwala and Aasha, South Africa-born Gamini, Veera and Nirva, and India-born Mukhi have all produced litters at Kuno, officials said, adding that dispersing cheetahs across multiple sites is central to the long-term success of the project. Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More