Twelve cheetahs from South Africa have been transported to India under an agreement that aims to introduce dozens of the large predators over the next decade.

Asiatic cheetahs became extinct in India in the late 1940s due to overhunting and habitat loss. In 2020, India's Supreme Court ruled that African cheetahs, which are a different subspecies, could be experimentally introduced into the country at a "carefully chosen location".

The Indian Air Force has released images showing the animals arriving "after a 10-hour flight from Johannesburg". They were subsequently transported by helicopter to Kuno National Park. These big cats will join the eight that were received from Namibia last year.

On 13 February, Kuno National Park director Uttam Sharma (Uttam Sharma) announced that the big cats would be placed in quarantine enclosures upon arrival. The twelve cheetahs have been in quarantine in South Africa since July. Wildlife experts have expressed concerns regarding the cheetahs' prolonged quarantine period, claiming it may be detrimental to their health and physical condition. However, Uttam Sharma stated that all preparations for receiving the big cats "have been completed".

Proponents of the project believe that the reintroduction of cheetahs will stimulate the local economy and help restore the ecosystems where these big cats live. Some members of the public are concerned that relocating animals always involves risks, and that releasing the cheetahs into the park could harm them.