Madhya Pradesh: India all set to welcome 12 African cheetahs
The cheetahs will be kept under one-month quarantine upon arrival
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The felines will be traveling from Johannesburg to Gwalior by Indian Airforce Boeing C-17 following which they will join eight other Nigerian cheetahs already residing in Kuno.
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The felines are getting introduced in India under Project Cheetah
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These cheetahs from Africa are getting introduced in India under Project Cheetah, the first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project in the world.
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The cheetahs have been quarantined in South Africa since July
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The 12 cheetahs have been living in quarantine in South Africa since July. A delay in their translocation was caused due to final agreement discussion.
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The project will help restore India's forest and grassland ecosystems
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The long quarantine periods of cheetahs have been criticized by wildlife experts since it affects the health and fitness of the big cats.
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The cheetahs will face new challenges when released in India
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According to South African conservation biologist Vincent der Merwe who is coordinating the translocation process, the six-month quarantine period made the cheetahs weak and affected their fitness due to the prolonged period of inactivity.