Botswana's President Duma Boko announced on Wednesday that the country would donate eight cheetahs to India to help with the reintroduction of the wild species after it had become extinct decades ago.

"In the spirit of our shared environmental goals and promotion of biodiversity, Botswana will be donating eight cheetahs to India to assist in the regeneration of their cheetah population. We are able to do this due to our success in the conservation of animal species that Botswana is blessed with," Boko said in the capital, Gaborone, during bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart, Droupadi Murmu.

Murmu is in Botswana on a state visit, and Boko used the opportunity to thank her for India's assistance in areas such as health, education, military cooperation, trade, and investment.

"We agreed that the two countries continue to strengthen cooperation. We gave our support to the ongoing Botswana-India business forum with a view to bolstering investment and business relations between the two countries," Boko added.

'Significant' visit

Murmu thanked Botswana for the cheetahs' gesture, noting that her visit is significant as the two countries approach the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year.

"India is committed to working closely with Botswana to further deepen our ties and to expand its partnership with Africa," Murmu said.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of an agreement on pharmacopeia between the two countries, with Murmu later addressing Botswana's parliament.