8 Namibian cheetahs en route to India
India and Namibia yesterday signed an agreement for the reintroduction of cheetahs into that country, with the first batch of eight to arrive from Namibia by next month.
Reports indicate that the first batch of cheetahs will comprise of four males and four females.
India has been working to relocate the animals since 2020, when its supreme court announced that African cheetahs could be introduced in a "carefully chosen location" on an experimental basis.
India in the past had Asiatic cheetahs, but the species was officially declared extinct by 1952.
In a statement, the Indian embassy in Namibia said a landmark agreement on wildlife conservation and sustainable biodiversity utilisation was signed between the countries in New Delhi. This includes an agreement to translocate cheetahs from Namibia to India, which was signed by India’s environment minister Bhupender Yadav and Namibian deputy prime minister and minister of international relations, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is currently visiting India for the 17th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa growth partnerships and for several bilateral engagements.
Wildlife conservation
According to the embassy, the agreement has a strong focus on wildlife conservation, to which both countries attach high importance.
“The agreement will promote sharing of good practices in technological applications and livelihood generation for local communities living in wildlife habitats.”
It will also facilitate the exchange of personnel for training and education in wildlife management and support to Namibian personnel in smart patrol, population estimation techniques and for surveillance and monitoring.
“The High Commission of India has been privileged to facilitate this agreement, which will also enable transfer of a few cheetahs for introduction back into India’s wild,” the high commissioner of India to Namibia, Prashant Agrawal, said.
He added that the cheetah is the only large carnivore which has gone extinct in India post its independence, and its reintroduction has a special significance as India marks its 75th independence this year.
First of its kind
“This unique intercontinental translocation would be the first of its kind ever and therefore has global attention. It will reaffirm our shared commitment to conservation. These cheetahs will be the goodwill ambassadors of Namibia and this friendly gesture on the part of Namibia is deeply appreciated by the people of India.”
He further thanked the Cheetah Conservation Fund for its experience and close involvement in the project.
“All necessary preparations and training are underway to welcome the first cheetahs from Namibia to the Kuno National Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India.”
Reports indicate that the first batch of cheetahs will comprise of four males and four females.
India has been working to relocate the animals since 2020, when its supreme court announced that African cheetahs could be introduced in a "carefully chosen location" on an experimental basis.
India in the past had Asiatic cheetahs, but the species was officially declared extinct by 1952.
In a statement, the Indian embassy in Namibia said a landmark agreement on wildlife conservation and sustainable biodiversity utilisation was signed between the countries in New Delhi. This includes an agreement to translocate cheetahs from Namibia to India, which was signed by India’s environment minister Bhupender Yadav and Namibian deputy prime minister and minister of international relations, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is currently visiting India for the 17th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa growth partnerships and for several bilateral engagements.
Wildlife conservation
According to the embassy, the agreement has a strong focus on wildlife conservation, to which both countries attach high importance.
“The agreement will promote sharing of good practices in technological applications and livelihood generation for local communities living in wildlife habitats.”
It will also facilitate the exchange of personnel for training and education in wildlife management and support to Namibian personnel in smart patrol, population estimation techniques and for surveillance and monitoring.
“The High Commission of India has been privileged to facilitate this agreement, which will also enable transfer of a few cheetahs for introduction back into India’s wild,” the high commissioner of India to Namibia, Prashant Agrawal, said.
He added that the cheetah is the only large carnivore which has gone extinct in India post its independence, and its reintroduction has a special significance as India marks its 75th independence this year.
First of its kind
“This unique intercontinental translocation would be the first of its kind ever and therefore has global attention. It will reaffirm our shared commitment to conservation. These cheetahs will be the goodwill ambassadors of Namibia and this friendly gesture on the part of Namibia is deeply appreciated by the people of India.”
He further thanked the Cheetah Conservation Fund for its experience and close involvement in the project.
“All necessary preparations and training are underway to welcome the first cheetahs from Namibia to the Kuno National Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India.”
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