India Awaits Kenya's Green Light for New Cheetah Batch

India is on the verge of receiving a new batch of cheetahs from Kenya, with only final approval from the Kenyan government standing in the way. The cheetahs will be part of the ongoing efforts to reintroduce the species to India, specifically to the breeding center being established in Gujarat’s Bunni grasslands. The translocation is part of a larger initiative that has already seen 20 cheetahs introduced to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This includes eight from Namibia and 12 from South Africa, which arrived in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Despite the challenges faced so far, including the deaths of eight adult cheetahs, the program has shown signs of success with the birth of 17 cubs, 12 of which have survived. This has brought the total number of cheetahs in India to 24, a figure that represents hope for the species’ reestablishment in the country.

India’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kenya is now awaiting final signatures. SP Yadav, director of the International Big Cat Alliance, expressed confidence that once the MoU is signed, the cheetahs will arrive, ideally during the winter season when the climate is more favorable. The breeding center in Gujarat is designed to accommodate 16 cheetahs, marking another milestone in India's conservation efforts.