South Africa has signed an settlement with India to introduce dozens of African cheetahs to the Asian nation over the subsequent decade, its environmental division stated on Thursday, after the primary had been transferred final yr from neighbouring Namibia.

An enormous cat species just like the cheetah disappeared from India some 70 years in the past.

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In September, eight radio-collared African cheetahs had been launched at Kuno National Park in central India after a 5,000-mile (8,000 km) journey from Namibia, the primary time wild cheetahs have been moved throughout continents to be launched.

“An initial batch of 12 cheetah are scheduled to be flown from South Africa to India in February 2023,” South Africa’s environmental division stated in a press release.

The large cats will be a part of these launched from Namibia.

“The plan is to translocate a further 12 annually for the next eight to 10 years,” the division added.