Bhopal, Jan 2: India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction effort under Project Cheetah has crossed a major milestone, with the country’s cheetah population rising to 30, including 19 cubs born on Indian soil, officials said, marking a significant step toward reviving the species nearly seven decades after its extinction in the country.
The programme, being implemented primarily at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, has begun to yield tangible results, wildlife officials said. In 2025, three female cheetahs at Kuno gave birth to 12 cubs, though three cubs did not survive due to natural causes.
“The reintroduction initiative has started showing tangible results, and the Indian soil is once again witnessing the flourishing of cheetahs,” said Project Cheetah Field Director Uttam Sharma, crediting the efforts of the Centre and the Madhya Pradesh government.
Despite the encouraging population growth, the project faced challenges during the year, with six cheetahs dying, including three cubs, one adult cheetah brought from Namibia, and two sub-adult cheetahs, officials said.
Project Cheetah began with the historic translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022, followed by the arrival of 12 cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023, all relocated to Kuno National Park in Sheopur district.
Of the total cheetah population, 27 animals are currently housed at Kuno, while three have been shifted to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district. Authorities are now preparing to establish a third cheetah habitat at the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Sagar district to further expand the species’ range.
Over the past three years, India has added 10 cheetahs after importing 20 animals from Africa, a move aimed at building a self-sustaining wild population.
Looking ahead, officials said eight more cheetahs from Botswana, already captured in the African nation, are expected to arrive at Kuno National Park by February 2026, reinforcing India’s long-term commitment to cheetah conservation.
“India is currently home to 30 cheetahs, including 19 cubs born on Indian soil,” officials said, expressing optimism that Project Cheetah will restore the big cat as a vital part of the country’s wildlife heritage.
