GWALIOR / KUNO — India’s ambitious Project Cheetah is set for a significant expansion as eight more big cats are scheduled to arrive from Botswana on Saturday morning, February 28, 2026. This third intercontinental translocation marks a critical milestone in the government’s efforts to establish a self-sustaining cheetah population nearly seven decades after the species was declared extinct in the country.
The latest batch, consisting of six females and two males, is expected to depart from Botswana on Friday night via a specialized Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. According to Cheetah Project Director Uttam Sharma, the flight to Gwalior will take approximately nine to ten hours. Upon arrival in Gwalior, the cheetahs will be airlifted by two IAF helicopters directly to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, where five helipads have been prepared to ensure a seamless transition.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav will be present at the park to release the animals into specially designed quarantine enclosures. The cheetahs will remain under close observation for approximately one month to ensure they are healthy and acclimatized before moving to larger bomas. This arrival will bring the total number of cheetahs in India to 46, inching closer to the project’s near-term goal of a 50-cat population.
The success of the reintroduction programme has been underscored by a recent boom in successful litters. Since 2023, Kuno National Park has seen the birth of 39 cubs, with 27 surviving to date. Officials noted that the breeding success of Namibia-born Jwala and Aasha, as well as South Africa-born Gamini and others, has been a testament to the habitat’s suitability. Currently, 35 cheetahs are stationed at KNP, while three have been relocated to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mandsaur district to mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks and overpopulation in a single habitat.
This latest translocation follows the initial introductions from Namibia in September 2022 and South Africa in February 2023. By diversifying the genetic pool with this new batch from Botswana, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change aims to ensure the long-term resilience of the species in India. The world’s fastest land animal is gradually reclaiming its place in the Indian wilderness, backed by the strategic logistical support of the Indian Air Force and a dedicated team of international wildlife experts.
