Sheopur (MP) | Nine cheetahs airlifted from Botswana were in good health in their quarantine enclosures in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, where they served food for the first time on Monday, officials said.
This is the third batch of big cats from Africa that was brought on Saturday on an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft as part of a four-year cheetah population revival plan in India.
The cheetah, the world's fastest land animal, became extinct in India nearly seven decades ago.
All nine cheetahs brought from Botswana were fit and fine. They were served their first meal on Monday morning in their quarantine enclosures, Project Cheetah Director Uttam Sharma told PTI.
Cheetahs generally eat once every three to five days and consume about 15 kg of meat on average. Adult cheetahs typically weigh between 40 kg and 65 kg, Sharma said.
With the latest arrival, the total number of cheetahs in the country has increased to 48.
Three cheetahs have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, while the remaining animals are housed at Kuno, Sharma said.
Officials said endangered animals are usually not kept in a single habitat to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.
Last year, 12 cheetah cubs were born at Kuno. Six big cats, including three cubs, did not survive.
This year, nine cubs were born in two litters between February 7 and February 18. In all, 39 cubs have been born at Kuno since 2023, of which 27 have survived.
Namibia-born Jwala and Aasha, South Africa-born Gamini, Veera and Nirva, and India-born Mukhi have all produced litters at the park.
