Cheetahs’ second home in India, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, almost ready: officials

South African delegation to assess conditions at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, where cheetahs will be introduced in India.

A South African delegation, including wildlife experts, will arrive in February to assess the conditions at Madhya Pradesh's Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary which is slated to become the second home of cheetahs in India, officials said on January 25.

They also said the two female Namibian cheetahs who recently gave birth to a total of seven cubs will be released in the wild only when the weather conditions improve.

Explained | How are cheetahs faring in India?

An official said that a South African delegation will visit India in February for an assessment of the preparations at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

"Thereafter, a call on bringing the next batch of cheetahs will be taken," the official said.

SP Yadav, Additional Director General of Forests at the Environment Ministry, had earlier told PTI that the next batch of cheetahs will be imported from South Africa and introduced into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Another official told the news agency that 90% of the work to prepare the wildlife sanctuary for cheetahs has been completed.