Botswana to Hand Over Eight Cheetahs to India under Project Cheetah

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Botswana to Hand Over Eight Cheetahs to India under Project Cheetah

Analysis

Botswana is set to hand over eight cheetahs to India today under Project Cheetah, marking a new phase of cooperation in wildlife conservation between the two nations.
The announcement came during a joint press briefing following bilateral talks between President Droupadi Murmu and Botswana President Duma Boko.
Both Presidents will witness the release of the captured cheetahs into a quarantine facility near Gaborone, symbolizing Botswana’s formal donation of cheetahs to India.
The cheetahs will remain in quarantine temporarily before being translocated to India.
President Duma Boko emphasized that this partnership reflects shared environmental goals and the promotion of biodiversity.
President Murmu thanked Botswana and assured that India will take good care of the cheetahs.
The event marks a continuation of India’s cheetah reintroduction efforts, following successful translocations from Namibia (2022) and South Africa (2023).
Many of these earlier translocated cheetahs have adapted well, displaying natural behaviors and reproduction, signaling ecological success.
During the visit, both countries also signed an MoU on healthcare and pharmaceuticals, with India agreeing to supply ARV medicines to aid Botswana’s HIV treatment programs.
President Murmu also addressed Botswana’s Parliamentarians, visited the Diamond Trading Company Botswana, and attended a Banquet Dinner hosted by President Boko.
On the final day of her visit, she will interact with the Indian community in Botswana.

Static/Background Information

Project Cheetah was launched in September 2022 with the goal of reintroducing the cheetah—the world’s fastest land animal—into India, where it became extinct in 1952.
It is being implemented by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
The Kuno National Park, located in Madhya Pradesh, serves as the primary site for the reintroduction of cheetahs in India.
Namibia and South Africa were the first two African nations to contribute cheetahs under this initiative before Botswana’s involvement.
The project aims to restore open forest ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and promote eco-tourism through species revival.

Updated – 13 Nov 2025 ; 08:46 AM | NewsOnAir