Overview
- An Indian Air Force C-17 flew the cheetahs to Gwalior on Saturday before IAF helicopters transported them to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
- Six females and three males were released into quarantine enclosures by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav for health checks and acclimatisation.
- The animals will remain in quarantine for about a month under veterinary monitoring before phased release with GPS tracking.
- This marks the third intercontinental transfer under Project Cheetah after arrivals from Namibia in 2022 and South Africa in 2023 to strengthen genetics and breeding.
- India now reports 48 cheetahs, with 45 at Kuno and three at Gandhi Sagar, and officials noted earlier expectations of eight arrivals were updated to nine on landing.