https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Mukhi’s Incredible Survival Story

Indian Masterminds Stories

In a tale of survival against the odds, Mukhi has made history as the first cheetah cub born in India to reach the age of two in over 75 years under Project Cheetah and has become a symbol of hope and learning for conservationists. Born to a Namibian cheetah in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, Mukhi is the only survivor among her four siblings, who succumbed to extreme summer conditions. Her journey has been a challenging yet enlightening experience for the team managing the ambitious reintroduction of cheetahs in India.

A FRAGILE BEGINNING 

Mukhi was just two months old when her mother abandoned her. The absence of maternal care meant she had to rely entirely on the intervention of forest officials and wildlife experts. “She was extremely vulnerable,” IFS officer Uttam K Sharma (1999 batch), Director of Project Cheetah, shared with Indian Masterminds. “We had never handled a cheetah cub before, so this was new territory for us.”

The team sought guidance from experts in Namibia and South Africa, who provided crucial insights into feeding protocols and handling techniques. However, much of the learning came from observing Mukhi herself—understanding how she responded to care, monitoring her health, and ensuring she adapted to her environment. “It was tough. Practical knowledge comes only with experience, and Mukhi was our first,” Mr. Sharma adds.

SURVIVING AGAINST THE ODDS 

Unlike her three siblings, Mukhi managed to endure the scorching summer. Her survival was a rare glimmer of success for Project Cheetah, which had faced setbacks with high mortality rates among the relocated cheetahs. “Had we lost her too, it would have been a major psychological setback,” Mr. Sharma admits. “She showed us that even in India’s challenging climatic conditions, cheetahs can adapt.”

Her upbringing was not without hurdles. Without a mother to teach her survival skills, Mukhi had to learn everything on her own. Initially, she was kept in a secure enclosure where she could gradually develop her instincts. Over time, she was introduced to a larger space with natural prey, where she started practicing the art of hunting. “She has the wild instinct. She gets injured sometimes while running and chasing, but she recovers quickly,” says Mr. Sharma.

A FUTURE IN THE WILD? 

Now approaching adulthood, Mukhi has started hunting occasionally, although she still receives supplemental food. With access to over 50 hectares of natural habitat within a larger enclosure, she is slowly acquiring the skills necessary for survival in the wild. “She is eager to hunt and is making progress. She is also reaching breeding age, so we are monitoring her closely,” Mr. Sharma explains.

There is a possibility that Mukhi could be released into the wild, like other cheetahs under the project. “She has been raised differently from the cheetahs in Namibia’s rehabilitation centres, where they follow a strict model for abandoned cubs. We have given her more space to adapt naturally,” he says.

For now, the team is focused on ensuring that Mukhi gains the strength and skills needed to thrive independently. Her survival has provided crucial insights into managing future cubs and has reinforced confidence in the project’s long-term viability.

“She has shown us that cheetahs can learn and adapt, even in challenging conditions. If she continues to progress, she might eventually roam free like her ancestors once did on Indian soil,” Mr. Sharma concludes.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Nitish Kumar
Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar Vows to Create 1 Crore Jobs for Bihar Youth in Next 5 Years, Highlights Major Development Milestones
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Government Approves Rs 1,390 Crore for Four New Medical Colleges and Healthcare Projects
Pushkar Singh Dhami CM
Uttarakhand Government Launches Free Pre-Recruitment Training for Agniveer Aspirants Across All Districts
Airports Authority of India AAI
PESB Finds Candidates Unsatisfactory for AAI Member (Operations) Post, Calls for New Selection Process
justice-photo
Next CJI of India: Find Out Who’s Set to Become the New Chief Justice – Full Story Inside
IPS Ratan Lal Dangi
Who Is IPS Ratan Lal Dangi? Chhattisgarh Police Officer Accused of Harassment by SI’s Wife; IG Anand Chhabra Assigned Probe - Full Story
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
UP: CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Fire Stations Every 100 Km on Expressways, Approves 1,020 New Posts in Fire Services
SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma
Who Is SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma? The 2015-Batch RAS Officer Caught in Yet Another Scandal After Slapping Petrol Pump Employee
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
01_10_2025-sanjay_gupta_24067000
Sanjay Gupta: The Steady Hand Guiding Himachal’s Next Chapter
Nitish Kumar
Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar Vows to Create 1 Crore Jobs for Bihar Youth in Next 5 Years, Highlights Major Development Milestones
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT