Every now and then there is good news about the environment and animals in Kenya. Although sometimes the good news is mostly denials of the less positive ones already announced or fake news.
In this case it is the former: the news is that Kenya will not be exporting its cheetahs to India for the time being, as had been rumoured by both sides a few months ago after the meeting of the two presidents, Kenyan Ruto and Indian Modi, and the subsequent visit of a Kenyan delegation to India in early May, as part of a broader programme of species conservation, but also of repopulation of India's national parks.
A media report had suggested that the two countries were on the verge of finalising an agreement, leading to speculation and controversy. The initiative, called ‘Project Cheetah’, would have stipulated transporting cheetahs to Indian parks in exchange for KWS equipment and training in Kenya, to improve wildlife conservation capacity, improve and share knowledge.
In recent days it was India, specifically its environment minister, Kirti Vardhan Singh, who categorically denied that any formal agreement had been made with Kenya to this effect. ‘No agreement has been signed with the Kenyan government for the translocation of cheetahs to India,’ the minister replied to a question from a journalist asking about the phantom memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
For now, the cheetahs are staying at home.

(photo: Paolo Torchio)