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
Madhya Pradesh State Administrative Service
MP Govt Approves 55% Dearness Allowance for IAS, IPS, IFS Officers & Deputation Employees
MEIL
MEIL Clinches Rs. 13,000 Cr NPCIL Order for Two Nuclear Reactors
Western Coalfields Limited
WCL Strengthens Healthcare Services in Vidarbha with Medical Equipment Donation to Dr Hedgewar Blood Centre
BPCL_resized
BPCL Partners with GPS Renewables to Set Up Compressed Biogas Plants Nationwide
Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL)
UCSL Delivers First Green Cargo Vessel ‘Wilson Eco 1’ to Norway, Marking Major Export Milestone for India
IAS Manoj Ahuja
Odisha: Chief Secretary Mandates Field Visits for Govt Officials to Strengthen Governance
NSE National Stock Exchange
Who Is Former IAS Neeraj Kumar Gupta, the Newly Appointed Chairman & Public Interest Director of NSE International Exchange?
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
Hindustan Shipyard Launches Skilling Programme for 2,000 Contract Workmen under Skill India Mission
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Utkarsh Yadav UPSC Rajasthan
Brother of Dausa DM Cracks UPSC with AIR 32: Utkarsh Yadav’s Inspiring Journey from Hamindpur to IAS
Utkarsh Yadav, an IIT Roorkee graduate from rural Rajasthan, secured AIR 32 in UPSC 2024 after three...
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-23 at 21.26
“You May Fail Twice, But If You Stand Tall the Third Time, You Fly” – Trilok Singh, CSE ’24 AIR 20 | Exclusive
Rejected by the military, Trilok Singh didn’t quit, he reloaded. In CSE 2024, the Rajasthan native stormed...
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-23 at 17.08
Two Births in Two Weeks: How Malavika G Nair Delivered Her Baby And Her UPSC Dreams
Just 14 days after giving birth, Malavika G Nair cradled her newborn in one arm and a UPSC answer sheet...
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Madhya Pradesh State Administrative Service
MP Govt Approves 55% Dearness Allowance for IAS, IPS, IFS Officers & Deputation Employees
Utkarsh Yadav UPSC Rajasthan
Brother of Dausa DM Cracks UPSC with AIR 32: Utkarsh Yadav’s Inspiring Journey from Hamindpur to IAS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT