70 years after the extinction of cheetahs in India, eight specimens arrive from Namibia

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Extinct for 70 years in

a group of cheetahs was already on its way from

on Friday for reintroduction to the country, an 11-hour plane ride, project officials and veterinarians said.

Donated by the Namibian government, the eight felines (five females and three males) were installed in the afternoon aboard a specially chartered aircraft at the airport of the Namibian capital,

nicknamed

(cat plane) and adorned in the cabin with the head of a feline.

After a period of quarantine, the animals, known for their speed and their beautiful spotted coat, will begin an acclimatization phase in their new habitat, the

located 320 km south of

The Indian Prime Minister,

is expected to personally release the animals upon his arrival at this protected park of more than 748 km2, chosen for its abundance of prey and its grasslands.

"It's historic, a world first," Indian High Commissioner for Namibia

India was once home to Asiatic cheetahs, but the species was declared

Dirk Heinrich AP

The Indian authorities have been trying to import these eight African cheetahs, a different species from the Asian one, since the

authorized their introduction in 2020, on an experimental basis, in a "carefully determined site".

founder of the

Namibia-based

told AFP .

Marker explained that the project had been more than ten years in the making.

The animals will be equipped with a satellite collar.

India also hopes to conclude an agreement with

to import other specimens.

Classified by the

on its red list of threatened species, the global population of cheetahs numbers fewer than 7,000 individuals, with the majority living in the African savannahs.

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