PM Modi releases 8 cheetahs at Madhya Pradesh National Park as he celebrates 72nd birthday
Published on Sep 17, 2022 02:13 PM IST
- 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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Published on Sep 17, 2022 02:13 PM IST
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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Cheetahs will help in the restoration of open forest and grassland ecosystems in India and will help conserve biodiversity and enhance the ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration and soil moisture conservation.(ANI/ PIB)
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PM Modi said that the 'Project Cheetah', under which the BJP government at the Centre reintroduced big cats in the country with the support of Nambia, is the government's endeavour towards environment and wildlife conservation.(ANI/ PIB)
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PM Modi, in an address to the nation following the release of cheetahs into Kuno National Park Saturday, said, "We lose certain things when we move away from our roots. Hence, we should take pride in our heritage."(ANI/ PIB)
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"The biodiversity that had become extinct and the link that got disconnected for decades, today we have a chance to reconnect it. Today the cheetah has returned to the soil of India. And I would also say that along with these cheetahs, the nature-loving consciousness of India has also been awakened with full force," said PM Modi.(ANI/ PIB)
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"It is unfortunate that we declared Cheetahs extinct from the country in 1952, but for decades no meaningful effort was made to rehabilitate them. Today, as we celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the country has started rehabilitating Cheetahs with new energy," said the PM.(PTI)
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The Prime Minister said that the grassland ecosystem would be restored again and biodiversity will increase further. "It is true that, when nature and environment are protected, then our future is also secure. The avenues for growth and prosperity also open up. When cheetahs run again in Kuno National Park, the grassland ecosystem will be restored again, and biodiversity will increase further," said PM Modi.(PTI)
