India set to be home of cheetahs after 70 years: Kuno-Palpur National Park ready to welcome nearly 15 of them
FirstpostIndia’s last spotted cheetah died in Chhattisgarh in undivided Madhya Pradesh in 1947 and the wild animal was declared extinct in the country in 1952 Bhopal/Sheopur: A wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is getting ready to welcome its new inhabitants, African cheetahs, which are being brought under an intercontinental translocation project and if everything goes as per plan, the majestic beasts will be here as early as next month. The fastest land animal in the world, declared extinct in the country in 1952, will find a new home in the Kuno-Palpur National Park in Sheopur district probably at a time when India will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day, a senior forest department official said. When specifically asked if the big cats, which can sprint at speeds of 80 to 130 km per hour, will arrive in the park on 15 August, he said, “It can happen.” Asked whether the world’s fastest mammals will be brought from Namibia or South Africa, Barnwal said, “Initially from South Africa.” On the status of memorandums of understanding with these two countries on translocation of cheetahs, the top forest official said they are yet to be finalized. Our preparations are going on in full swing to welcome cheetahs back to India but we don’t know anything about the actual date of arrival or the number of big cats coming to Madhya Pradesh as it is being finalized at the level of Government of India, principal chief conservator of forest J S Chauhan said.