September 17, 2026
Introduction:
The Project Cheetahcompleted four years on 17 September 2026. India’s cheetah population under the project stands at 52, including 32 cheetahs born in India. The animals are located in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
The Project Cheetah and Reintroduction History
Project Cheetah began on 17 September 2022 with the release of eight cheetahs from Namibia at Kuno National Park by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India received 12 cheetahs from South Africa on 18 February 2023 and nine cheetahs from Botswana on 28 February 2026. The project is India’s first intercontinental large carnivore translocation programme.
Current Population and Distribution
As of 16-17 September 2026, 49 cheetahs are in Kuno National Park and three are in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. Seventeen cheetahs, including 10 males and 7 females, are free-ranging in the wild inside Kuno National Park. Thirty-two cheetahs, including 5 males, 8 females and 19 cubs below one year of age, are kept in soft-release enclosures.
Breeding and Second-Generation Cubs
The birth of 32 cheetahs in India marks the establishment of breeding females under the project. Mukhi, the only surviving cub from the first litter born in India in March 2023, gave birth to five cubs in November 2025. Second-generation cubs are part of the long-term population-building phase of the programme.
Important Facts for Exams
- Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952.
- Project Cheetah is linked to the reintroduction of the Asiatic cheetah in India’s historical range through African cheetahs.
- Kuno National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh and was selected as the first site for cheetah release.
- Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is also in Madhya Pradesh and has been included in the cheetah programme.
Conservation Objective
Project Cheetah aims to expand suitable habitats for cheetahs in India. The programme also seeks to establish a long-term cheetah meta-population across multiple sites in the country.