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President Draupadi Murmu received eight cheetahs from Botswana at Mokolodi Nature Reserve on Thursday, November 13, as part of Project Cheetah. The big cats will soon head to India after quarantine.
1 , 6Historic handover at Mokolodi Nature Reserve, Botswana On the last day of her three-day state visit to Botswana, President Draupadi Murmu was symbolically handed over eight leopards by Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko. The event took place at the beautiful Mokolodi Nature Reserve, located about 10 km south of Gaborone, where the two leaders also witnessed the release of two cheetahs into a quarantine enclosure as a symbolic gesture of the transfer. (Image: PTI)
2 , 6Eight leopards will start a new journey in India. Wildlife officials confirmed that all eight cheetahs – including adult and sub-adult males and females – are currently housed in the reserve. Only two were released in the presence of heads of state for a ceremonial handover. The big cats were introduced from the city of Ghanzi in the Kalahari Desert, which covers about 70% of Botswana’s land area. (Image: PTI)
3 , 6Mokolodi Reserve: A haven for endangered species. Spread over 3,700 hectares, Mokolodi Nature Reserve is a private, non-profit game reserve established in 1994. It is home to a wide variety of African birds and reptiles, including rhinos, giraffes and many vulnerable and endangered species. The cheetahs will remain in quarantine here before being transported to India in the coming weeks. (Image: PTI)
4 , 6Strengthening India-Botswana Wildlife Cooperation. During the event, President Murmu thanked Botswana for its contribution to global wildlife conservation, and assured that India would take “good care” of the cheetahs. President Boko expressed hope that the donation will support India’s efforts to revive the species and strengthen the conservation partnership between the two countries. (Image: PTI)
5 , 6Project Cheetah: India’s ambitious reconstruction mission India’s cheetah reintroduction journey began on September 17, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs from Namibia into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This was the first intercontinental transfer of a large carnivore species in the world. India later imported 12 more cheetahs from South Africa in 2023 under Project Cheetah.
6 , 6Despite the challenges, the population of cheetahs increased. Three years into the project, India is now host to 27 cheetahs – 16 born on Indian soil. While 19 cheetahs have died due to natural and environmental causes, the birth of 26 cubs shows promising signs for the revival of this species. With the upcoming arrival of leopards from Botswana, India is making steady progress towards reintroducing its lost predator back to the wild.