On Saturday (September 17), Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 3 cheetahs from their wooden crates into the quarantine enclosures of Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. A total of 8 felines were brought from Namibia under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in January this year.
A special Boeing aircraft of Terra Avia, a Molodova-based airline, ferried the cheetahs from Namibia to Gwalior in India on Saturday (September 17) morning. Following the 10-hour-long journey, the felines were brought to Kuno via Air Force helicopter.
Reportedly, the Cheetahs remained without food throughout the course of the journey. They were provided with food following their release to quarantine enclosures at the Kuno National Park.
ऐतिहासिक पल!
— Chief Minister, MP (@CMMadhyaPradesh) September 17, 2022
प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi द्वारा @GovernorMP श्री मंगुभाई पटेल एवं मुख्यमंत्री श्री @ChouhanShivraj की गरिमामयी उपस्थिति में नामीबिया से लाए गए चीतों को कूनो नेशनल पार्क, श्योपुर में विमुक्त किया गया। #CheetahIsBack #CheetahStateMP #MPWelcomesCheetah pic.twitter.com/J9UwKqVbk6
In a viral social media video, PM Modi was seen operating a lever and opening the gates of a closed wooden crate that housed a cheetah. The Indian Prime Minister was also seen capturing images of a feline using his camera.
Thereafter, other cheetahs were released into their respective enclosures. The in situ conservation site is spread across 344 square km. In total, 5 female and 3 male big cats have been brought from the African nation to reintroduce the animal species in India after it was officially declared extinct in 1952.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauded the decision and informed that the historic step will increase tourism in the State. It is believed that the introduction of the big cats will help restore grassland ecosystems, open forests, and biodiversity. Moreover, it will increase water security, soil moisture conservation and carbon sequestration.
A special bird touches down in the Land of the Brave to carry goodwill ambassadors to the Land of the Tiger.#AmritMahotsav #IndiaNamibia pic.twitter.com/vmV0ffBncO
— India In Namibia (@IndiainNamibia) September 14, 2022
The inter-continental translocation project was carried out under ‘Project Cheetah’ of the Indian government in accordance with the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Reportedly, the big cats that were relocated from Nambia are aged between 2 and 5.5 years. They have been temporarily housed in quarantine enclosures and fitted with satellite collars.
A month later, they will be shifted to open forest areas of Kuno National park. A large contingent of security personnel has been deployed to prevent the poaching of the big cats. As per reports, a dedicated team will monitor each cheetah 24/7.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: Earlier visuals of the 8 cheetahs- from Namibia brought in the special chartered cargo flight that landed in Gwalior this morning.
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2022
Indian Air Force choppers, carrying the felines, are enroute Kuno National Park where they’ll be reintroduced today pic.twitter.com/80G7pwjifQ
In 2020, the Supreme Court gave a green signal to introduce African cheetahs at carefully chosen locations in India on an experimental basis. According to Project Cheetah chief SP Yadav, Kuno was chosen due to the presence of large grasslands, small hills and forests. Earlier in 2012, the Supreme Court had blocked an attempt to bring Cheetahs to India due to a violation of norms. The then UPA govt had attempted to bring Cheetahs from Namibia, but a petition was filed against it because the Ministry of Environment and Forests went ahead with the project without the required approval from National Board for Wildlife.
In March 2020, it had come to light that the extinct Indian cheetah bore genetic similarities with its Southeast African counterpart. “The study has provided first scientific evidence to begin with reintroduction process of African Cheetah into India,” tweeted scientist Niraj Rai.
Our first ever genetic study on extinct Indian Cheetah confirmed that Southeast African Cheetah is genetically closer to Indian Cheetah. The study has provided first scientific evidence to begin with reintroduction process of African Cheetah in to India. https://t.co/TccGT5iomY https://t.co/aQDj4Co7uJ
— Niraj Rai (@NirajRai3) September 17, 2022
While speaking about the historic feat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “People will have to show patience & wait for a few months to see these #Cheetahs in Kuno National Park. These Cheetahs have come as guests, unaware of this area.”
“For them to be able to make Kuno National Park their home, we’ll have to give these Cheetahs a few months’ time. Following international guidelines, India is trying its best to settle these cheetahs. We must not let our efforts fail,” he added.
Following international guidelines, India is trying its best to settle these cheetahs. We must not let our efforts fail: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/pgpqgfajpx
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2022
The Congress party has meanwhile courted controversy by trying to hog credit for Project Cheetah. Despite its failed bid in 2013, it is now trying its best to eclipse the achievement of the incumbent BJP government. Had the Manmohan Singh govt followed proper procedures, the Supreme Court would not have stayed the effort.
When tigers were first translocated to Panna and Sariska during 2009-11, there were many prophets of doom. They were proved wrong. Similar predictions are being made on the Cheetah project. The professionals involved are first-rate and I wish the project the very best! 2/2
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 17, 2022
Cheetahs have been looked upon as prized possessions by royals and elites of India. Owing to their continued packing, hunting and habitat loss, the felines were declared extinct in 1952.
And then the last lot of cheetah. 3 cheetah hunted by King of Koriya (Chhattisgarh) in 1947. By 1952 government of India declared then extinct. The first step of species extinction in local population extinction. Many are facing now in India. Hope we will pay attention to them. pic.twitter.com/DSRxs17uBW
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) September 17, 2022
The iconic picture of Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo is believed to be the last recorded cheetahs in India in the late 1940s. The big cats continue to be listed as vulnerable by IUCN and only 7000 of them are alive today in African savannas.
