New Delhi, Feb 5: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav confirmed that the third batch of eight cheetahs from Botswana will arrive in India on February 28, 2026. The announcement came after a meeting with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

During the meeting, they discussed several important topics, including tourism development, the expansion of reserve forests, and wildlife conservation in the state. Chief Minister Yadav also outlined the state's preparations for receiving the new cheetahs and requested cooperation from the Centre.

In addition, Madhya Pradesh is set to bring wild buffaloes from Assam, further contributing to the region's conservation efforts. The ambitious cheetah reintroduction project, which began in September 2022 with the relocation of cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno National Park, has faced challenges, with some cheetahs sadly passing away. However, despite the setbacks, the cheetah population in the park has exceeded 30, including cubs.

The state has now established a second home for the cheetahs at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, where a few cheetahs have already been relocated. Preparations for the upcoming arrival were reviewed in December 2025 by a team from Botswana, who expressed satisfaction with the facilities, including quarantine enclosures and medical infrastructure.