Kenya will export 20 Cheetahs to India by the end of this year, according to new reporting from the Asian state.
The deal, which has been in talks for a better part of last year, is set to be sealed this year with Kenya sending the animals to India.
According to reports from India, the cheetahs are scheduled to arrive in India between February 25 and September 25. The deal was on and off for a while, with reports in May last year indicating the deal was nowhere near an agreement. In August, however, it emerged that the deal was back on track.
Despite these assurances, reports from India on August 8 revealed that no formal agreement has been signed between Kenya and India regarding the cheetah importation. But it now seems the agreement has been reached. According to reporting from the Deccan Herald, the cheetahs will be under the supervision of scientists from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI).
President William Ruto with India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during a past state visit to India.
Photo
PSC
According to the publication, the 20 cheetahs will undergo a 15-day quarantine at Madhya Pradesh’s Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
“Cheetahs are being brought to India again, and before being released at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, they will be quarantined. A team of veterinary scientists has been formed to inspect the quarantine centre, evaluate the facilities, and suggest improvements,” Dr Triveni Datt, Director and Vice Chancellor of IVRI, Bareilly, said on Wednesday, January 22.
India has been making efforts to repopulate cheetahs that went extinct in 1952. In 2022, the country imported eight cheetahs from Namibia and is now set to receive some from Kenya given Kenya’s similar tropical climate, which may facilitate better adaptation of the animals.
India’s plan under Project Cheetah involves the introduction of eight to fourteen cheetahs annually over five years, subject to availability.
The deal has been opaque, with Kenyan officials remaining silent on the export, and it remains unclear what Kenya will get from the deal.
However, a six-member Kenyan delegation travelled to India in late May to assess the preparations for exchange. Kenya is on the brink of sending cheetahs to India, following a pivotal visit by a six-member Kenyan government delegation last week.
During their visit, the officials are said to have presented a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). This MoU outlines key collaborations in wildlife conservation, capacity building, and knowledge sharing.
The MoU, detailed in a report by the India Express, aims to establish a comprehensive understanding between Kenya and India. India has previously signed MoUs with Namibia and South Africa for cheetah translocation, which included cooperation in wildlife conservation and capacity building.
Among the proposed collaborative efforts, Kenya seeks India’s assistance in acquiring equipment for forest rangers to enhance field patrolling and wildlife conservation.
Cheetahs in the wild.
Photo
Canva