PM Modi releases 8 cheetahs at Madhya Pradesh National Park as he celebrates 72nd birthday
The cheetahs were declared extinct from India in 1952 but today 8 cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) were brought from Africa's Namibia as part of 'Project Cheetah' and the government's efforts to revitalise and diversify the country's wildlife and habitat.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is celebrating his 72nd birthday today. On the occasion, he released eight cheetahs flown in from Namibia into a special enclosure at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh. While addressing and congratulating the Indian citizens he said, "Cheetahs have come back to our land after decades. On this historic day, I want to congratulate all Indians and also thank the government of Namibia. This could not have been possible without their help".(ANI/ PIB)
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Eight cheetahs have been brought to Gwalior from Namibia in a special plane on Saturday morning under an MoU signed earlier this year with the Namibian government in order to revive the already extinct cat species.(AP)
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The animals were later flown to the KNP, located in Sheopur district, in two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters.(ANI/ PIB)
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The 'African Cheetah Introduction Project in India' was conceived in 2009. A plan to introduce the big cat in the KNP by November last year had suffered a setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic, officials said.(ANI/ PIB)
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