India Cheetah Recovery
India's Cheetah Population Reaches 52 Four Years After Landmark Conservation Project Launch
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Key Points
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The population breakdown shows that three of the eight cheetahs introduced from Namibia survive alongside 22 India-born offspring, while eight of the 12 South African cheetahs survive with 10 India-born offspring.
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The programme’s first year was particularly difficult: six introduced cheetahs and three of the first four India-born cubs died between March and August 2023.
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One cub that survived after being abandoned by her mother is now known as Mukhi and has herself produced five healthy cubs, illustrating the programme’s recovery from its early losses.
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During a period of crisis, the Kuno team brought 12 cheetahs back into enclosures within 10 days; it also successfully located Nirva, a South African female whose tracking collar failed during the monsoon, after a 21-day search.
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The review says 13 India-born cubs survived for more than a year, while the programme’s third year concentrated on releasing cheetahs into the wild and monitoring them across a 12-district inter-state landscape.
India's cheetah population has grown to 52 animals four years after Project Cheetah launched, with 32 born within the country. Telegraph India reports that the milestone marks a major recovery for a species that went extinct in India in 1952. The population includes cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa, plus nine introduced from Botswana in 2026, now spread across Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
After early setbacks that killed nine animals in the program's first year, officials say the population has shifted toward stability. India Today notes that 17 cheetahs now roam freely at Kuno while 32 remain in soft-release enclosures, including 19 cubs under one year old. The next phase aims to expand suitable habitat and build an interconnected cheetah population across India's landscape.
A Rocky Start That Nearly Derailed The Program
Project Cheetah's first year brought heartbreak. Between March and August 2023, six imported cheetahs and three newborn cubs died, putting the entire reintroduction at risk. ETV Bharat describes how the Kuno team responded by bringing 12 cheetahs back into enclosures within 10 days to prevent further losses. The crisis forced officials to rethink their approach to managing the animals in a new environment.
Despite the losses, key successes emerged. One cub abandoned by her mother, named Mukhi, not only survived but has now produced five healthy cubs of her own—proof that the program could recover. Officials also located Nirva, a South African female whose tracking collar failed during monsoon rains, after a grueling 21-day search.
Offspring From Three Countries Now Thriving
The 52 cheetahs represent a mix of origins. Three of eight Namibian cheetahs survived to produce 22 offspring; eight of 12 South African cheetahs produced 10 offspring; and nine cheetahs arrived from Botswana in 2026. Vajiraman Dravi reports that 13 India-born cubs survived past their first year, a threshold that indicates successful adaptation to their new home.
Next Phase Focuses On Habitat And Population Links
Officials now shift focus from survival to growth. CNBC TV18 states that the program's third year concentrated on releasing cheetahs into the wild and monitoring them across 12 districts spanning multiple states. The real challenge lies ahead: expanding habitat and connecting separate cheetah populations so they can breed and thrive across a larger landscape instead of staying confined to isolated reserves.
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