From South Africa to MP’s Kuno Park: How 12 cheetahs were sedated & ferried (VIDEOs)

New Delhi: The Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh is now home to 12 more South African Cheetahs. The fresh batch of Cheetahs being lifted out from South Africa will join the 8 Namibian big cats that were brought here months ago.

The 12 cheetahs – including 7 males & 5 females were released into their quarantine enclosures at the national park by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The reintroduction of cheetahs in India’s jungles is one of the world’s first such drive to relocate the wild cats in an intercontinental habitat but from sedating to transporting them into new habitat without any hassles was no easy task.

Darted & sedated, also hydrated with drips

It is for the first time that Cheetahs were ferried from South Africa to India, joining the existing batch of 8 big cats from Namibia.

For the first time in history, South Africa will be translocating 12 cheetahs to India as part of an initiative to expand the cheetah meta-population & to reintroduce the mammals in the country.#SACheetahstoIndia pic.twitter.com/HvKpEHUDBa

— Environmentza (@environmentza) February 17, 2023

While many wondered about the rigorous process, South Africa’s Dept of Forestry Twitter handle gave a good peek into the sedation & transportation of these cheetahs to India. Before loading them on relocation crates & then on flight, they were also hydrated with drips.

This is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both countries which facilitates cooperation to establish a viable & secure cheetah population in India & to promote conservation & community involvement in conservation efforts in the two countries.#SACheetahstoIndia pic.twitter.com/ygB3r62FVv

— Environmentza (@environmentza) February 17, 2023

These crates were taken to Tambo International Airport in South Africa, where Indian High Commissioner Jaideep Sarkar was also present.

DFFE’s Green scorpions Mr Rikhotso & Mr Ndlovu put the seal around the crates which indicate that all checks and permits have been done and that the mammals are ready to be translocated. More checks will be conducted at @ortambo_int #SACheetahstoIndia pic.twitter.com/BHWamPavOQ

— Environmentza (@environmentza) February 17, 2023

IAF’s Globemaster lifted big cats to India

The sedated felines were ferried to India via Indian Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster aircraft, which landed at the Gwalior air base at around 10 AM on SAturday. From there, they were taken to Kuno National Park via helicopters.

High Commissioner of India: HE Mr Jaideep Sarkar together with the Indian delegation have arrived at @ortambo_int and prepare to load the Galaxy Globemaster C17 transport from the Indian Air Force which will be transporting the cheetahs #SACheethastoIndia pic.twitter.com/mGbhl08g7E

— Environmentza (@environmentza) February 17, 2023

WATCH: The 12 cheetahs are loaded onto the Galaxy Globemaster C17 transport from the Indian Air Force and are safely secured for the journey to their new home.#SACheetahstoIndia pic.twitter.com/aMsDzOnNx7

— Environmentza (@environmentza) February 17, 2023

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan released cheetahs into their quarantine enclosures in the Kuno National Park, spread over 750 km in Chambal region.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan releases the second batch of 12 Cheetah brought from South Africa, to their new home Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/uQuWQRcqdh

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2023

1st batch of Cheetahs entered Kuno on Sept 17

For the unversed, the first batch of Cheetahs were ferried from Namibia to MP and were released into the Kuno Park by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17.

Cheetahs were declared extinct species in India in 1952. The country recorded its last cheetah death in Chhattisgarh in year 1947.