Madhya Pradesh to welcome 8 more Cheetahs from Botswana on February 28
Madhya Pradesh is set to take another decisive step in global wildlife conservation with the arrival of eight cheetahs from Botswana on February 28, strengthening India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme.
The move comes amid close coordination between the state and the Centre, with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change assuring full logistical and procedural support.
The roadmap for the cheetah transfer was finalised during a high-level meeting between Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Dr Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking after the meeting, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said the discussions went beyond cheetahs and focused on the state’s vast reserve forest belt, which plays a crucial role in tourism, biodiversity, and livelihoods. “We discussed the large belt of reserve forests in Madhya Pradesh, which is extremely important for our tourism industry. We also discussed bringing wild buffaloes from other states, particularly Assam, and sought assistance in procedural matters.
Cheetahs will also be arriving from Botswana around February 28. We are satisfied that the Madhya Pradesh government, working hand-in-hand with the Government of India, will move forward with all necessary steps to further enhance our wildlife resources,” the Chief Minister said.