South Africa signs agreement to introduce dozens of African cheetahs in India over the next decade

An initial batch of 12 cheetah are scheduled to be flown from South Africa to India in February 2023

South Africa has struck a deal with India to relocate dozens more African cheetahs over the next 10 years. This has been informed by the environmental department of South Africa, as per reports by Reuters.

This is yet another big development after 8 radio-collared African cheetahs were released at Kuno National Park in Rajasthan in September last year, after they covered a 8,000 km journey from Namibia. Known to be the fastest land animal on Earth – the release of the Cheetahs in the Kuno National Park coincided with the 72nd birthday of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“An initial batch of 12 cheetah are scheduled to be flown from South Africa to India in February 2023,” South Africa’s environmental department was reported saying.

These big cats will also join those that were introduced from Namibia.

“The plan is to translocate a further 12 annually for the next eight to 10 years,” the department statement added.

About 70 years ago, a huge cat species like the cheetah went extinct from India.

CREDITS: REUTERS

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