Bhopal, February 27 (NationPress) - A new group of eight cheetahs will be arriving at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district from Botswana on February 28, marking another significant step in India’s Translocation Project Cheetah.

This represents the third substantial translocation of cheetahs from Africa as part of the initiative. The group includes six females and two males and aims to bolster the reintroduced population of this species in the subcontinent, where it has been extinct for almost seventy years.

Officials have announced that the cheetahs will be flown to India via a specialized aircraft and subsequently transported from Gwalior to Kuno using two helicopters from the Indian Air Force.

The helicopters are scheduled to take off at 8:30 a.m. and are expected to arrive at Kuno around 9:30 a.m.

To support this operation, five dedicated helipads have been established within the park, ensuring adherence to scientifically and veterinary-approved procedures.

Upon their arrival, the cheetahs will undergo essential immigration, customs, and veterinary examinations, in addition to security clearances. Following this, they will be housed in specially designed enclosures for a quarantine period of approximately one month, allowing for their acclimatization and health monitoring.

Kuno National Park is already home to a thriving population of cheetahs. Following the launch of Project Cheetah in 2022, efforts have shifted from initial reintroduction to the long-term establishment and breeding of the species.

Out of the twelve cheetahs that were relocated from South Africa last year, eight remain healthy at Kuno, while three have been moved to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary as part of a strategy to expand the population.

Successful breeding has been observed, with reports of ten cubs born to females of South African origin. Notably, Mukhi, the first adult female cheetah born in captivity at Kuno, has given birth to five cubs.

Additionally, another female named Gamini has delivered twice. Her three sub-adult cubs from the first litter are thriving, and she has recently welcomed another three cubs.

Veera is currently seen roaming freely in the forest with her 13-month-old cub, while Nirva is nurturing her three 10-month-old cubs in a secure enclosure.

With the imminent arrival of the Botswana cheetahs, the total population at Kuno is anticipated to grow even more, further advancing the long-term conservation and population goals of this crucial project.