Botswana to reintroduce Cheetahs in India

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said Botswana will be helping to reintroduce Cheetahs in India under the next phase of ‘Project Cheetah’.

“It gives me special pleasure to note that Botswana is to reintroduce Cheetahs in India under ‘Project Cheetah’. This is a unique wildlife conservation initiative of the Government of India, which aims to restore the Cheetah to India’s ecosystems,” Murmu said while making a press statement after delegation-level talks with her Botswana counterpart Duma Gideon Boko at the President’s Office in Gaborone.

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She thanked President Boko and the people of Botswana for agreeing to send their Cheetahs to India.

“We will take good care of them (Cheetahs)!” President Murmu said.

During wide-ranging one-to-one meetings and delegation-level talks, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in key sectors, including trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, health, education, skill development, defence, and digital technology.

President Murmu said this morning she had a very productive meeting with President Boko, followed by fruitful delegation-level talks. “Our discussions covered the full range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest. We reaffirmed the deep and friendly ties between India and Botswana, founded on shared democratic values and mutual respect,” she said.

“We agreed to expand cooperation in key sectors, including trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, health, education, skill development, defence, and digital technology,” President Murmu said.

“We witnessed the signing of an important agreement that will help in providing easy access to good-quality and affordable Indian medicines to the citizens of Botswana. I also conveyed to President Boko India’s decision to send essential ARV medicines as requested by the Government of Botswana,” she said.

President Murmu said this visit marks an important milestone for bilateral relations, as the first-ever presidential visit from India to Botswana. It also assumes significance in view of the approaching 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2026.

She said India is committed to working closely with Botswana to further deepen its ties and to expand its partnership with Africa, including within the framework of the India-Africa Forum Summit.