Kuno National Park: India’s ambitious ‘Project Cheetah’ has achieved a significant milestone with the country’s cheetah population now standing at 30, including 19 cubs born on Indian soil. The reintroduction program has successfully revived the population of the world’s fastest land animal, which had gone extinct in India nearly seven decades ago.
Successful Breeding at Kuno National Park
At Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, three female cheetahs gave birth to a total of 12 cubs in 2025, marking a significant step in the program’s success. While the year saw some challenges, including natural causes and wildlife struggles that led to the deaths of six cheetahs, including three cubs, the program has nonetheless brought hope and excitement to wildlife conservationists across India.
According to Project Cheetah Field Director Uttam Sharma, the efforts of both the Central Government and Madhya Pradesh Government have been pivotal in ensuring the survival and growth of these big cats. He stated, “The reintroduction initiative has started showing tangible results, and the Indian soil is once again witnessing the flourishing of cheetahs.”
Import and Relocation Efforts
The reintroduction program began with the arrival of eight cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022, followed by a batch of 12 cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023, which were relocated to Kuno National Park in Sheopur district. To date, 27 cheetahs are currently at KNP, while three have been moved to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district.
The program plans to establish a third cheetah habitat in India at the Naouradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh, further strengthening the species’ presence in the country.
Population Growth and Future Plans
Over the past three years, India has added 10 cheetahs to its population under this ambitious reintroduction initiative, which involves importing 20 cheetahs from Africa. The successful births of 19 cubs in India highlight the program’s effectiveness in creating a self-sustaining cheetah population in the wild.
Looking ahead, India is set to welcome eight more cheetahs from Botswana, which have already been captured and are expected to arrive at Kuno National Park by February 2026. These efforts demonstrate India’s commitment to restoring the cheetah as an integral part of its wildlife heritage.
About Project Cheetah
Project Cheetah is India’s landmark wildlife conservation and reintroduction program aimed at reviving the cheetah population, which went extinct in the country around the 1950s. The program involves strategic importation of cheetahs from Africa, careful relocation to protected habitats, and intensive monitoring to ensure breeding success and population growth. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, state wildlife authorities, and international conservation partners.
With 30 cheetahs now in India, including 19 cubs born in the country, the project marks a major step toward restoring ecological balance and reinforcing India’s commitment to wildlife conservation.
