ByZoe Sottile, CNN

Updated 3:57 PM EDT, Sat September 17, 2022

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/17/world/cheetahs-india-namibia-reintroduction-scn-trnd/index.html

Cheetah Conservation Fund founder and executive director, Laurie Marker, and staff prepare the cheetahs for their journey in Otjiwarongo, Namibia, on September 12. Photo credit: Carolina Torres/Cheetah Conservation FundCheetah Conservation FundCNN—

After going extinct in India over 70 years ago, cheetahs are finally making a comeback in the country with a new reintroduction program.

Eight cheetahs from Namibia arrived in India on Saturday, according toa tweet from the Cheetah Conservation Fund(CCF). The big cats were released into India’s Kuno National Park in the state of Madya Pradesh.

Rare triplet Asiatic cheetah cubs mark an important first for the species

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was there to welcome the cheetahs to their new home. “A long wait is over,” Modiwrote on Twitteralongside pictures of the cats in their new environment.

Today, the spotted felines…