New Delhi [India], November 6 (ANI): Botswana has signaled its readiness to send a “good number” of cheetahs to India under Project Cheetah, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday, ahead of President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Angola and Botswana. The move marks a significant boost to India’s wildlife conservation efforts.
Speaking at a press briefing, MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Sudhakar Dalela said, “We have already been working with Namibia and South Africa as part of our shared commitment to conservation and biodiversity protection. In addition to Namibia and South Africa, we have been talking to Botswana for some time, and they have indicated their readiness to work with us in this area.”
While he did not specify the exact number, Dalela added, “I would not like to give you a number, but certainly it will be a good number that we are hoping for. And I also feel that they will be moving to India very soon.”
Project Cheetah is India’s flagship initiative to reintroduce the world’s fastest land animal. Currently, India has 27 cheetahs, comprising 11 translocated from South Africa and Namibia in two separate batches, and 16 born in India. Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh remains the core hub, covering 748 sq km of inviolate habitat within a larger 3,500 sq km cheetah-compatible landscape.
The MEA confirmed that President Murmu will undertake a state visit to Angola and Botswana from November 8 to 13, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to these African nations. Dalela noted that the visit reflects India’s growing engagement with countries of the Global South, particularly in Africa, across political, economic, developmental, and cultural dimensions.
He added that India expects to finalise Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in key areas, including health, fisheries, and capacity building during the visit. “We do hope that we can concretise these MoUs before the visit of the President. There would also be some announcements,” he said.
Dalela also highlighted India’s efforts to encourage African partners to join multilateral and regional initiatives launched by New Delhi, such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Global Biofuel Alliance, and the International Big Cat Alliance.
President Murmu’s visit to Angola from November 8 to 11 and Botswana from November 11 to 13 is expected to strengthen India-Africa partnerships in trade, investment, technology, health, energy, and wildlife conservation, reinforcing a key pillar of growing India-Africa cooperation. (ANI)
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