WATCH: PM Modi releases 8 cheetahs; says "Project Cheetah is our endeavour towards environment & wildlife conservation"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released eight cheetahs into Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park. He released two cheetahs from enclosure number one and after that about 70 meters away, from the second enclosure released another cheetah.

 

Cheetahs - brought from Namibia - are being introduced in India under Project Cheetah, the world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project. In his address to the nation about the historic event, PM Modi expressed, "Today, the Cheetahs have come back to our land after decades. On this historic day, I want to congratulate all Indians and also thank the government of Namibia. This could not have been possible without their help."

 

 

"I am sure, these cheetahs will not only make us aware of our responsibilities towards nature but will also make us aware of our human values ​​and traditions", the Prime Minister remarked. "Project Cheetah is our endeavour towards environment and wildlife conservation," he said.

 

PM Modi remarked that even though cheetahs had become extinct from India in 1952, no meaningful effort was made to rehabilitate them for the past seven decades. The Prime Minister reiterated, "When nature and the environment are protected, our future becomes secure and the avenues for growth and prosperity open up".

 

 

The Prime Minister made a request to all the countrymen to act with patience and wait for a few months to witness the cheetahs released in Kuno National Park. “Today these cheetahs have come as guests, and are unaware of this area” he remarked, “For these cheetahs to be able to make Kuno National Park their home, we have to give them a few months' time.” The Prime Minister stressed that international guidelines are being followed and India is trying its best to settle these cheetahs. “We must not allow our efforts to fail”, the Prime Minister added.

 

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1571020042346831872?s=20&t=Ikv5raaKpPQAaOjtJEwaow

 

 

 

The release of wild Cheetahs by the Prime Minister in Kuno National Park is part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify India’s wildlife and its habitat. The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952. The Cheetahs that would be released are from Namibia and have been brought under an MoU signed earlier this year. The introduction of Cheetah in India is being done under Project Cheetah, the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.

Cheetahs will help restore open forest and grassland ecosystems in India. This will help conserve biodiversity and enhance the ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration and soil moisture conservation, benefiting society at large. This effort, in line with the Prime Minister’s commitment to environmental protection and wildlife conservation, will also lead to enhanced livelihood opportunities for the local community through eco-development and ecotourism activities.