70 years after extinction, PM Modi releases 'India's guests' to MP's Kuno National Park

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an address to the nation following the release of cheetahs into quarantine enclosures in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh Saturday, appealed for patience from the public before visiting cheetahs. 

PM Modi added that though India declared cheetahs extinct in 1952, it is unfortunate that no constructive efforts were made to reintroduce them for decades.

Eight cheetahs had landed in Gwalior from Namibia's capital Windhoek at around 8 am on September 17, which was also PM Modi's 72nd birthday.

Referring to the cheetahs as 'India's guests', he said that India will try its best to follow international guidelines in nurturing them.

He thanked the government of Namibia for its assistance in the project.

Meanwhile, the Congress party said on Friday that the proposal for 'Project Cheetah' was prepared in 2008-09 and approved by the then Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. 

The Opposition party said that in 2013, the Supreme Court had stayed the project, before approving it in 2020, paving the way for the return of the cheetahs.