India PM Modi on 72nd birthday releases 8 Namibia’s cheetahs in MP national park

Cheetahs. PM Modi clicking pictures at the launch of Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park | Image Credit: UNI

IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 72nd birthday by releasing eight cheetahs from Namibia in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park Saturday.

The relocation of the cheetahs, who were flown to Gwalior from Africa, marked the carnivore’s presence in India and concluded the seven-decade-long hiatus.

The release of wild Cheetahs by the Prime Minister in Kuno National Park is a part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify India’s wildlife and its habitat. Cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952.

The Cheetahs that would be released are from Namibia and have been brought under an MoU signed earlier this year. The introduction of Cheetah in India is being done under Project Cheetah, which is world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.

The cheetahs, who have now got radio collars installed, will be monitored by a team through satellite including their location for 24 hours.

Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister said, “This is a historic moment. Cheetahs will make us more environmentally conscious.”

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