Marking International Cheetah Day, two male cheetahs named Vayu and Agni were released into the wild at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (KNP) on Wednesday.
The cheetahs were introduced to the Parond forest area, which falls under the Ahera tourism zone, offering visitors a chance to glimpse these majestic animals during safari trips.
"On the occasion of International Cheetah Day, two male Cheetahs, Agni and Vayu, were successfully released in Parond forest area of KNP.
Both cheetahs are healthy," stated Uttarm Kumar Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forest and Director of the Lion Project.
The release is a continuation of India's ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme aimed at reviving a species declared extinct in the country over 70 years ago due to hunting and habitat loss.
Kuno National Park, located in Sheopur district, now hosts 24 cheetahs, including 12 cubs, which were previously housed in enclosures.
The release of Agni and Vayu marks a significant milestone in the project, blending conservation efforts with eco-tourism opportunities.
The programme commenced on September 17, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight Namibian cheetahs into enclosures at KNP as part of the world’s first intercontinental cheetah translocation.
This was followed by the arrival of 12 more cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023, bolstering efforts to re-establish the species in India.
International Cheetah Day highlights the importance of conserving the planet’s fastest land animal. With the addition of Agni and Vayu to the wild, Kuno National Park continues to serve as the focal point of India’s cheetah revival mission.
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