A high-level delegation of wildlife experts from South Africa visited Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP) and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (GSW) on Friday to assess the progress of India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme. The visit marks a key step as India and African partners prepare to resume the intercontinental translocation of cheetahs, with the next batch expected to arrive next month, according to officials familiar with the developments.

The delegation comprised senior officials and scientists including Anthony Mitchell, head of the forestry, fisheries and environment office; Kam Chetty, chairperson of the Ministerial Task Team on voluntary exit options from the captive lion industry; biologist Sam Ferreira; scientist Brent Coverdale; and senior scientist Jeanetta Cellier. Over two days, the team conducted a detailed review of the project at Kuno National Park before travelling to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, where three cheetahs have already been released. A senior Madhya Pradesh forest department officer stated that the experts closely examined both the enclosures and open habitats to understand the adaptation progress of the translocated animals.

The visit follows earlier reports that South Africa’s environment ministry would conduct a comprehensive review of the memorandum of understanding signed on January 26, under which South Africa agreed to supply ten cheetahs annually to India for ten years. South African officials had previously highlighted that any continuation of the agreement would be contingent on scientific assessments confirming that the translocation does not compromise the stability of cheetah populations in the wild, and that the released animals are adapting successfully to their new environment. These assessments include long-term viability modelling and habitat suitability evaluations.

According to Madhya Pradesh officials, final discussions regarding the dispatch of the next group of cheetahs from South Africa were scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Union Ministry of Environment in New Delhi. The review involves examining survival rates, behavioural adaptation, prey base conditions, and the overall integrity of the habitat management practices implemented since the first translocations.

Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav confirmed a day earlier that India had also finalised an agreement with Botswana. Eight cheetahs from Botswana are already in quarantine in preparation for their transfer and are expected to arrive in India within the month. Upon arrival, they will first be placed in quarantine enclosures inside Kuno National Park before being gradually released into the wild following acclimatisation procedures.

Madhya Pradesh currently hosts 27 cheetahs, with 24 in Kuno and three in Gandhi Sagar. These include 11 adults originally translocated from Namibia in September 2022 and South Africa in February 2023, as well as 16 cubs born in India. The birth of these cubs has been highlighted by project authorities as a promising sign of adaptation, despite setbacks such as mortality and challenges related to climate, prey availability, and territorial behaviour.

State Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Subhranjan Sen stated that the South African team had “cleared all doubts” and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project. He noted that the experts observed cheetahs both in captivity and in free-ranging conditions, praising the combined efforts of the central government and the state forest department. Their positive assessment is expected to facilitate continued cooperation under the long-term translocation agreement.

In addition to the South African delegation, a team from Botswana is also expected to visit Kuno soon as part of the verification and coordination process before the release of the upcoming batch of cheetahs. According to Uttam Kumar Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests at Kuno National Park, preparations for receiving the new arrivals are complete. The schedule for their arrival will be finalised by the end of the week, and the animals will be placed in quarantine zones before being moved into larger enclosures and subsequently released into the wild.

Looking ahead, Madhya Pradesh has initiated preparatory work to develop Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary as the next habitat for cheetah introduction. The expansion of suitable habitats is considered essential to accommodate the growing population and ensure long-term genetic diversity and territorial dispersion. The state government aims to establish a network of viable habitats to support the multi-phase reintroduction strategy that India is implementing in collaboration with African conservation authorities.

The multi-country translocation effort, one of the most ambitious wildlife restoration programmes globally, continues to draw international attention. The latest review by South African experts is viewed as a significant endorsement of India’s progress and its commitment to strengthening cheetah conservation in a region where the species went extinct more than seven decades ago.