By Abdullahi Lukman
India has marked International Cheetah Day by reaffirming commitment to wildlife conservation and celebrating the return of cheetahs in its shores through Project Cheetah, a national initiative aimed at restoring the species and the ecosystems it once inhabited.
In a message shared on the occasion, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Project Cheetah, launched three years ago, was designed not only to protect the animal but also to revive lost ecological heritage and strengthen biodiversity.
He described the initiative as a symbol of India’s renewed focus on environmental conservation, according to News9, a TV BRICS partner.
India began reintroducing cheetahs in 2023, more than 70 years after the species became extinct in the country.
Twenty cheetahs were initially translocated from Namibia and South Africa. Since then, the population has grown to 32, including 21 cubs born on Indian soil.
The Prime Minister noted that many of the cheetahs are currently located in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, and said the country takes pride in hosting the species once again.
He also invited wildlife enthusiasts from around the world to visit India and experience what he described as “cheetah tourism.”
Despite these gains, conservation challenges remain. Globally, only about 7,100 cheetahs survive in the wild, and the species has lost an estimated 92 per cent of its historical range, underscoring the continuing need for international conservation efforts.
