*A version of this article originally appeared in the November 2022 Bush Telegraph newsletter. You can read our recent newsletters and sign-up to receive these in your inbox on our Bush Telegraph newsletter page.
The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, recently opened a new grassland sanctuary for big cats in Kuno National Park, 480km south of New Delhi. Why feature this in our Africa-centric Bush Telegraph? Because last month, eight Namibian cheetahs were flown 11 hours in cat class from Windhoek to Delhi in the world’s first inter-continental translocation of cheetahs.
These eight, jet-setting Namibians – five females and three males – are the first of their kind to participate in a major reintroduction initiative which has been decades in the making. Hunting and habitat loss caused India’s once widespread population of Asiatic cheetahs – a critically endangered subspecies now only found in small numbers in Iran – to become officially extinct in 1952. The creation of this 750km² park, championed by the Namibia-based charity Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), is part of a wider plan to reintroduce big cats around India. In the words of CCF’s executive director, Dr Laurie Marker, “Conservation of a species requires global cooperation”. The experience and dedication of the Namibian team in enabling this international reintroduction is an enormous accolade, and testament to their hard work and commitment to species conservation over decades.
If seeing cheetahs is on your wish list, we know the perfect places across Africa. Have a look at our cheetah hotspots sightings map. Then consider our Longclaw Safari to see these sleek felines roaming the vast Serengeti while you’re based at the stunning Namiri Plains Camp. Or head to Kenya’s Maasai Mara on the immersive Hamerkop Fly-In Safari for super, year-round sightings.
If you’ve been inspired and want to find out more, give us a call or enquire now to speak to an expert.
