Zambia Adopts Kuno Cheetah Model for Its Conservation Programme

Zambia has adopted the Kuno cheetah project's methodology for its own conservation programme, marking international recognition for the Madhya Pradesh initiative. Six cheetahs were translocated from South Africa to Zambia in July. Zambia will quarantine the animals for at least a month before releasing them into a 2,000-hectare soft release boma, followed by monitored release into the wild using radio collars.

Kuno field director Uttam Kumar Sharma noted that Kuno remains the world's first project to radio-collar and monitor 30 cheetahs round-the-clock. Currently, 18 of Kuno's original 20 cheetahs are in the wild under constant surveillance. Sharma stated that South Africa and Botswana's willingness to provide cheetahs reflects confidence in the project's success, and that international bodies including the United States have praised the initiative.