 "Botswana’s gift of eight cheetahs strengthens India’s conservation efforts under Project Cheetah.")
Botswana and India have taken a significant step in deepening their partnership through wildlife conservation. On November 13, President Droupadi Murmu received eight cheetahs from Botswana’s President Duma Gideon Boko during a ceremony at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve near Gaborone. The gesture, officials said, underscores Botswana’s long-standing commitment to biodiversity protection and its growing collaboration with India.
Symbolic handover at Mokolodi reserve
The symbolic handover took place on the final day of President Murmu’s three-day state visit to Botswana. Both leaders embarked on a morning safari to witness the transfer of two of the eight cheetahs into a quarantine enclosure. The animals were brought from the Ghanzi region of the Kalahari Desert and include male and female adults as well as sub-adults. Wildlife officials explained that the remaining cheetahs will soon undergo quarantine procedures before being transported to India.
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Partnership under project cheetah
The translocation marks another milestone for India’s Project Cheetah, an initiative launched in September 2022 to reintroduce the species to its historical habitat. During bilateral talks a day earlier, the two presidents highlighted the conservation effort as an example of environmental cooperation. President Murmu expressed gratitude for Botswana’s contribution and reaffirmed India’s responsibility to care for the animals.
Expanding India’s cheetah population
According to official reports, India now has 27 cheetahs, including 16 born in the country. Most of them live in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. Despite natural losses since the project began, India has recorded a net increase in its cheetah population. The latest addition from Botswana reflects the shared vision of both nations to preserve endangered species and strengthen ecological ties across continents.