🚨 Big Update: 8 Cheetahs Coming to India from Botswana – Everything You Need to Know! 🌍✨
Want to stay ahead in your exams? Here’s the latest hot topic that you must know! India is bringing 8 new cheetahs from Botswana under the ambitious Project Cheetah – a major wildlife conservation move that has grabbed national attention. If you’re preparing for SSC, UPSC, State PSC, or any environment-related exam, this topic is a must-revise!
Let’s break it down in easy language and cover all important facts. ✅
✅ Event Summary:
What happened?
India is all set to bring 8 cheetahs from Botswana in two phases. This is part of Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing cheetahs into the Indian wildlife ecosystem.
When and where?
First Phase: 4 cheetahs to arrive in May 2025.
Second Phase: 4 more cheetahs will follow in upcoming months.
The cheetahs are scheduled to be relocated to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
Who made the announcement?
The decision was made public following a high-level review meeting held in Bhopal, which was attended by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav.
Additional Update:
On April 20, 2025, two cheetahs were successfully relocated from Kuno National Park to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary as part of the expansion efforts under Project Cheetah.
🔍 Why It Matters:
- This is part of India’s mega wildlife project to reintroduce cheetahs, which were declared extinct in the country in 1952.
- Biodiversity Boost: It enhances ecological balance and wildlife tourism, especially in Madhya Pradesh.
- Exam Relevance: This topic connects to GS Paper 3 (Environment), Wildlife Conservation Acts, and national parks — often asked in UPSC, State PSCs, and SSC.
ℹ️ Background & Context:
- What is Project Cheetah?
- Launched in 2009, officially implemented in 2022.
- World’s first intercontinental cheetah translocation project.
- Past Relocations:
- 8 cheetahs came from Namibia on 17 September 2022, released by PM Modi.
- 12 more came from South Africa in February 2023.
- Current Numbers: 26 cheetahs now live in Kuno National Park, including 14 India-born cubs.
- Implementing Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
🔹 Key Takeaways for Exams:
- ✨ Cheetah’s Speed: Fastest land mammal, runs at 121 km/h.
- ✨ Extinct in India: Officially declared extinct in 1952.
- ✨ Sanctuary Name: Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
- ✨ State: Madhya Pradesh (Mandsaur & Nimach districts).
- ✨ NTCA: Under Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.
- ✨ River: Chambal river flows through the sanctuary.
🤯 Impact on Aspirants:
- ✅ Great for Environment, Geography, and Current Affairs.
- ✅ Questions may be asked like:
- Where is Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary located?
- What is Project Cheetah?
- Which countries are involved in cheetah relocation?
- What is the speed of a cheetah?
📈 Did You Know?
- 🌿 Cheetah Mitras (volunteers) are being specially trained for cheetah conservation.
- 🌎 Botswana was once known as Bechuanaland during British rule.
- 💼 Over ₹112 crore has been spent on Project Cheetah, 67% of it in MP alone!
- 🤿 The Gandhi Sagar sanctuary has 8,900 hectares developed exclusively for the new cheetahs.
🔮 Pro Tip:
Create a “Wildlife Projects in India” chart in your study notes. Add:
- Project Cheetah
- Project Tiger
- Project Elephant This helps during revision for GS and essay papers!
🧠 Top 5 FAQs on Project Cheetah – 2025 Update
- What is Project Cheetah and when was it launched?
👉 Project Cheetah is India’s initiative to reintroduce cheetahs into the wild, as they were declared extinct in India in 1952.
- It was conceptualized in 2009 and officially launched in 2022.
- From which countries are cheetahs being brought to India?
👉 Cheetahs have been brought from Namibia, South Africa, and now Botswana.
- In 2025, 8 cheetahs from Botswana will be relocated to Madhya Pradesh.
- Where is Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary located?
👉 👉 Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Mandsaur and Neemuch districts of Madhya Pradesh.
- It lies along the Chambal River and is now a new home for cheetahs under Project Cheetah.
- Who is implementing Project Cheetah in India?
👉 The project is being implemented by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. - Why is relocating cheetahs important for India??
👉 It marks the first intercontinental big cat translocation in the world.
- It aims to restore ecological balance, boost biodiversity, and promote eco-tourism in protected wildlife areas.
📄 Stay Updated! Love getting exam-relevant updates like this? Follow TezKhabrein.com for more quick-read, high-value current affairs articles that make you exam-ready.
Stay curious, keep learning, and let your preparation roar like a cheetah! 🦁🚀
👉 Read the full report on Operation Sindhu 2025: Indian Students Rescued from Iran to understand how India carried out this critical evacuation mission from a conflict zone.