Seven decades after it was declared extinct in India, the world’s fastest land animal is poised to make a comeback in the country. Over five years, three dozen African cheetahs will be relocated from South Africa and Namibia to their new digs in kunonationalpark. Led by an expansive team that includes wii_india, moefccgoi, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the US$28 million project marks the first time a large carnivore is being moved from one continent to another for reintroduction in the wild. And the team is going in prepared: “We have abated all of the cheetah’s threats and we now have well-protected areas to help restore our lost heritage,” says Yadvendradev Jhala, PhD, the project leader and dean of the Wildlife Institute of India. Some conservation experts remain skeptical about the long-term sustainability of the imported population, but Jhala says plans are underway to restore additional areas. “The ultimate success of the project is having a viable populati...