Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs into Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park on his 72nd birthday.
Two cheetahs were released from enclosure number one and after that about 70 meters away, from the second enclosure another cheetah was released.
Eight cheetahs, 5 females and 3 males, were imported from Namibia in Africa as part of “Project Cheetah” and the government’s efforts to revive and diversify the nation’s fauna and habitat. Cheetahs were once thought to be extinct in India as of 1952.
An intercontinental cheetah translocation operation involved flying the cheetahs to Gwalior in a cargo plane. Later, the cheetahs were flown from Gwalior Air Force Station to Kuno National Park by Indian Air Force helicopters.
An MoU that was reached earlier this year allowed for the introduction of the cheetahs.
All of the cheetahs reportedly have radio collars attached, allowing for round-the-clock satellite monitoring.
Cheetahs will aid in the restoration of India’s open forest and grassland ecosystems, help to preserve biodiversity, and improve ecosystem services including soil moisture conservation, water security, and carbon sequestration.
“Cheetah is said to be the fastest animal. It runs at a speed of 100-120 km per hour. The habitat that has been selected in Kuno is very beautiful and ideal, where there are large grasslands, small hills, and forests and it is very suitable for cheetahs. Heavy security arrangements have been made in Kuno National Park. Arrangements have been done to prevent poaching activities, said SP Yadav, Project Cheetah chief.