The cheetahs were reintroduced in India in September, 70 years after they were declared extinct

Two of the eight cheetahs reintroduced in India in September this year have been released to a bigger enclosure in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

This was done after the mandatory quarantine period for the cheetahs brought from Namibia came to an end.

Sharing a video showing the cheetahs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Great news! Am told that after the mandatory quarantine, 2 cheetahs have been released to a bigger enclosure for further adaptation to the Kuno habitat. Others will be released soon. I’m also glad to know that all cheetahs are healthy, active and adjusting well".

Eight wild cheetahs brought from Namibia had been released by Prime Minister Modi at two points in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh on September 17 this year.

This had marked the reintroduction of the cheetah in India, 70 years after it was declared extinct from the country in 1952.

The eight Cheetahs - five female and three male - were brought from Namibia for being introduced in India under Project Cheetah, which was described as the world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

In his Mann ki Baat broadcast on September 25, Prime Minister Modi had exhorted people to suggest names for the Cheetahs, saying those who did so may get the first opportunity to see them.

Discussions to bring the cheetah back to India were initiated in 2009 by the Wildlife Trust of India. Experts from across the world, officials of the Government of India including Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and representatives of the state governments met and decided to conduct site surveys to explore the reintroduction potential.

Former cheetah range states - Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh - were prioritized.

Surveys for 10 sites were conducted between 2010 and 2012. Kuno National Park, with an area of 748 sq km was considered ready for receiving cheetahs. The national park forms part of the Sheopur-Shivpuri deciduous open forest landscape.