The Cheetah Reintroduction Project, fueled by IndianOil and steered by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), will formally take off on 17 th September 2022. The first batch of Cheetahs, translocated from Namibia to India, will be released into the Kuno National Park in the presence of Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. IndianOil, as the lead energizer of this project, will support NTCA with Rs 50.22 Crore to take this project forward.
Speaking on the project, Mr S M Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, said,”IndianOil is proud to welcome the Cheetahs back to Indian soil. It is an affirmation of Indian Oil resolve to align with Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi vision to preserve and enhance India wildlife and maintain a healthy ecological balance.
Restoring original cheetah habitats and their biodiversity should go a long way to stem the degradation and rapid loss of biodiversity.As the only Corporate championing this special cause, we hope this Project ssuccess will open up more avenues for crafting a sustainable future”.
In India, Cheetah was officially declared extinct in 1952. Under the Species Recovery Program of the Government of India, species which become extinct are restored in their historic natural habitat. Some such landmark projects include the Restoration of Tigers in Panna Tiger Reserve and the Reintroduction of Gaur (Indian Bison) in Bandhavgarh.
Now, the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh will witness host the Cheetahs from Africa, marking a fresh start for the species in the country. IndianOil financial support would be directed towards Cheetah introduction endeavours, Habitat management, protection, eco-development, staff training and veterinary healthcare.