Why is it in the news?
Nine cheetahs arrived from Botswana at Kuno National Park under Project Cheetah.
Marks expansion of India’s intercontinental cheetah reintroduction programme.
Category: Environment
Important Points:
● India’s cheetah count now 48 including 29 Indian-born cubs
● First batch: 8 cheetahs from Namibia (Sept 2022)
● Second batch: 12 from South Africa (Feb 2023)
● Botswana hosts ~24% of global cheetah population (~7,100 individuals)
● 76.9% of Botswana cheetahs live on community/commercial farmlands
● Project Cheetah launched in 2022 under Project Tiger
● Cheetahs declared extinct in India in 1952
● NTCA is implementing agency with MP Forest Dept & WII
● Kuno NP and Gandhi Sagar WLS are primary habitats
● Over 350 ‘Cheetah Mitras’ engaged for community support