Namibia and India and Namibia have entered into a pact under which the southern African country will donate several cheetahs to the Asian nation where the animal has been extinct since the early 1950s, according to reports monitored here.
The reports said Namibia and India signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday for the reintroduction of cheetahs in the Asian country’s Kuno-Palpur National Park in Madhya Pradesh province.
Quoting a senior Indian environment ministry official, the reports said the first batch comprising four male and four female cheetahs is expected to arrive in August.
The official is quoted as saying India is also discussing with South Africa for a similar deal.
The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952, mainly due to over-hunting and habitat loss.
Namibia has one of the world’s largest population of cheetahs.
According to the pact, the two countries would share and exchange expertise and capacities to promote cheetah conservation.
JN/APA