The much-awaited arrival of African cheetahs to India may be timed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, suggests a statement by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Tuesday.
Addressing a gathering of officials prior to a meeting of the State Cabinet, Mr. Chauhan is heard saying: “It is the Prime Minister’s birthday on the 17 th of September and I’m happy to convey that he will be in Madhya Pradesh. The cheetahs are expected to arrive on that day and we will be organising a function in Kuno Palpur on that day to mark their arrival in his presence.”
A video grab of Mr. Chauhan announcing this was available on his official Twitter feed. Kuno-Palpur is the forest reserve expected to house the cheetahs.