News Release Details

IndianOil powering transcontinental relocation of Cheetah in its historical range in India with Rs 50.22 Crore
New Delhi   13-Sep-2022

Under the aegis of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and powered by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IndianOil), the ambitious Cheetah Reintroduction Project is set to welcome the first Cheetahs on Indian soil after over seven decades on 17th September 2022. IndianOil is the first and only corporate to come forward to support "Project Cheetah" through CSR. Under this project, a source population of 15-20 Cheetahs will be flown in from Namibia and South Africa and will be introduced at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. IndianOil will be contributing Rs 50.22 crore over four years for the project components, viz. Cheetah Introduction, Habitat Management & Protection, Eco Development, Staff Training and Veterinary Healthcare.

The Cheetahs will be flown in from Namibia to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park as a mark of the nation's commitment to realise the Hon'ble Prime Minister's Mission LiFE vision. The Mission LiFE vision is a mantra given to the world by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build a truly inclusive world where human greed does not overtake the need for survival of our flora and fauna and where humans exist in harmony with nature.

Earlier, on 2nd August 2022, IndianOil signed an MoU with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for the transcontinental relocation of Cheetah in its historical range in India. The MoU was signed by Mr S M Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil and Dr S P Yadav, Addl. Director General (Project Tiger) and Member Secretary (NTCA).

Speaking on the MoU, Mr Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, said, "Led by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is now leading the way as far as sustainable progress and ecological conservation is concerned. Indian PSUs have been doing well to strengthen Government's sustainable endeavours, and the Cheetah Introduction project is one such example. This MoU between IndianOil and NTCA should serve as a template for a future project on restoring Biodiversity. Cheetahs are human-friendly and special, and their return to India is an important environmental leap."

Recently, Mr Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Labour & Employment, said, “While the tiger has served as a flagship and umbrella species of forest systems, the cheetah will fill the void for open forests, savannah and grasslands”.

Reflecting IndianOil's commitment to supporting this ambitious ecological project steadfastly, Mr Vaidya had said, "The MoU between IndianOil and NTCA demonstrates the nation's resolve to nurture a greener, brighter and vibrant new India. I am sure that NTCA will steward this project on a mission mode, and let me assure everyone of IndianOil's steadfast commitment to supporting this endeavour at all times. I must add that this Cheetah Introduction Project is in sync with our priority of conserving India's natural habitat and heritage. Our mascot, the Indian single-horned Rhino, stands firm as a testimony to that commitment. India and IndianOil welcome Cheetahs back to the country”.

Dr. Uttiya Bhattacharyya
Executive Director (Corporate Communications)
Indian Oil Corporation Limited