Symbolic handover of 8 Cheetahs to President Murmu at Mokolodi Reserve

President Droupadi Murmu was symbolically handed over eight cheetahs by Botswana’s President Duma Gideon Boko at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve near Gaborone on Thursday, during the final day of her three-day state visit that concluded on November 13. The news comes as India prepares to receive a fresh batch of cheetahs under Project Cheetah, with the animals expected to arrive in the coming weeks after completing quarantine in Botswana.Earlier in the morning, both leaders arrived at the reserve—located about 10 kilometres south of Gaborone—and travelled by safari vehicle to witness the ceremonial release of two cheetahs into a quarantine enclosure. Wildlife officials from both countries briefed the heads of state on the procedures, noting that while eight cheetahs remain in the reserve, only two were released for the symbolic handover.

A new chapter in India-Botswana wildlife conservation partnership: At the Mokolodi Nature Reserve in Botswana, President Droupadi Murmu and President Duma Gideon Boko witnessed the release of captured cheetahs originating from Botswana's Ghanzi region into the quarantine facility… pic.twitter.com/NtzgBILxyT

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 13, 2025

The eight cheetahs, comprising adult and sub-adult males and females, were brought from Ghanzi, a town in the vast Kalahari Desert that covers nearly 70 per cent of Botswana’s land area. The Mokolodi reserve itself spans 3,700 hectares and is home to rhinoceros, giraffes, and a range of indigenous African bird and reptile species, many of which are rare or vulnerable.The animals will undergo mandatory quarantine before being transported to India, marking the latest phase in the country’s cheetah reintroduction programme. The initiative was jointly announced by the two presidents on November 12 during a press briefing following delegation-level talks at President Boko’s office. President Murmu expressed her appreciation for Botswana’s commitment to wildlife cooperation and affirmed that India would ensure proper care for the big cats.
President Boko stated the decision to gift cheetahs to India will contribute to rebuilding the species’ population in the country, supporting long-term conservation goals.India’s cheetah reintroduction journey began on September 17, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs from Namibia into an enclosure at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh—the world’s first intercontinental relocation of a large wild carnivore. The country later brought in 12 more cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023.Three years into the project, India now has 27 cheetahs, including 16 born on Indian soil. Of these, 24 are at Kuno National Park and three at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary on the Mandsaur–Neemuch border. Since the start of the programme, 19 cheetahs—nine imported adults and 10 Indian-born cubs—have died due to various causes, while 26 cubs have been born. After importing 20 animals from Africa, India currently has a net gain of seven cheetahs over the initial number,according to information.

(Asstt.Editor)