India and Botswana are in the final stages of discussions to import eight more cheetahs to India, according to a forest official in Madhya Pradesh. The exact dates of arrival are contingent upon the final decisions from both governments.

This initiative is part of Project Cheetah, India's ambitious program to reintroduce the species, which was declared extinct in the country in 1952. The project began in September 2022 with the arrival of eight cheetahs from Namibia, marking the world's first intercontinental translocation of cheetahs. In February 2023, twelve more cheetahs were brought in from South Africa. As of April 2025, the current cheetah population in India stands at 26, including cubs born on Indian soil. Project Cheetah has cost ₹112 crore so far, with 67% allocated to cheetah rehabilitation activities in Madhya Pradesh.

The cheetahs from Botswana will be translocated in two phases. The first four are expected to arrive by May 2025, with the remaining four to follow in subsequent months. Unlike the existing population primarily housed at Kuno National Park, the new arrivals from Botswana will be relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Gandhi Sagar is near the Rajasthan border, and an inter-state conservation corridor is being developed through an agreement between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. In April 2025, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister released two cheetahs from Kuno National Park to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

While the reintroduction project is a significant conservation effort, it has also faced criticism from environmental scientists. Concerns have been raised about the cheetahs' welfare due to the high mortality rates observed. Since the project's inception, there have been 19 deaths, but also 26 cub births. Some experts suggest that the project may have other agendas, including a possible agreement related to ivory trade with Namibia. Despite the controversies, the country aims to increase its cheetah population. More cheetahs are expected to be brought in from Kenya and South Africa as well.