Ahmedabad: Gujarat is set to welcome the world’s fastest land mammal, the cheetah, with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approving the translocation of four cheetahs to the Banni grasslands in Kutch, marking a major milestone in the state’s wildlife conservation journey.

It is learnt that two male-female pairs are expected to arrive in July or August, pending final approval from the Union government. With this move, Gujarat will become the second state in India to host cheetahs after Kuno National Park. A total of 12 cheetahs are planned to be introduced in phases within a year under an ambitious rewilding programme.

The Gujarat forest department has accelerated preparations at Banni, with an NTCA team recently inspecting habitat conditions, enclosure readiness, veterinary facilities and logistics. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Jaipal Singh said the state is fully prepared for the relocation.

Unlike the Namibian cheetahs at Kuno, Gujarat’s cheetahs will be brought from Kenya. Officials said the animals will first arrive in Bhuj before being shifted to Banni, where India’s first dedicated cheetah conservation breeding centre is being developed.

The cheetahs will remain in quarantine for about a month before being released into a 500-hectare enclosure designed to replicate Kenya’s savannah habitat. Authorities have also installed nearly 9.8 km of chain-link fencing to prevent escapes and keep other predators out. DeshGujarat