India to Relocate Dozens of African Cheetahs, Signs Deal with South Africa

Last Updated: January 27, 2023, 09:12 AM IST

Initially 12 Cheetahs will arrive as part of the deal. (File Photo)

South Africa has signed an agreement with India to introduce dozens of African cheetahs to the Asian country over the next decade, its environmental department said on Thursday, after the first were transferred last year from neighbouring Namibia.

South Africa has signed an agreement with India to introduce dozens of African cheetahs to the Asian country over the next decade, its environmental department said on Thursday, after the first were transferred last year from neighbouring Namibia.

A big cat species similar to the cheetah disappeared from India some 70 years ago.

In September, eight radio-collared African cheetahs were released at Kuno National Park in central India after a 5,000-mile (8,000 km) journey from Namibia, the first time wild cheetahs have been moved across continents to be released.

”An initial batch of 12 cheetah are scheduled to be flown from South Africa to India in February 2023,” South Africa’s environmental department said in a statement.

The big cats will join those introduced from Namibia.

”The plan is to translocate a further 12 annually for the next eight to 10 years,” the department added.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)