Milestone in India’s Cheetah Conservation Project as Population Reaches 29 at Kuno
In a remarkable achievement for India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction program, Cheetah Nirva has given birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on Sunday, April 27, 2025. This new litter increases the park’s cheetah population to 29, including 14 India-born cubs, marking a significant step toward restoring the species that went extinct in India seven decades ago. The total cheetah population across the country now stands at 31, bolstered by recent conservation efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance.
A Triumph for Project Cheetah
The birth of Nirva’s cubs, a 5-year-old cheetah translocated from South Africa, underscores the success of Project Cheetah, launched in September 2022 with the release of eight Namibian cheetahs into Kuno National Park. This historic intercontinental translocation, followed by the arrival of 12 more cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023, aimed to reestablish a sustainable cheetah population in India. Prior to this birth, Kuno was home to 24 cheetahs, but the recent relocation of two cheetahs, Prabhash and Pavak, to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary on April 20, 2025, adjusted the park’s count before Nirva’s litter arrived.
Chief Minister Yadav celebrated the event on X, stating, “It is a great pleasure that the population of cheetahs at the Kuno National Park is constantly growing. Recently, 5-year-old Nirva has given birth to 5 cubs. The arrival of these little cubs is a symbol of the success of the Cheetah Project and the rich biodiversity of India.” He credited the favorable environment created for wildlife conservation and extended congratulations to the Kuno National Park team, wildlife experts, and conservation partners for their dedication.
Strengthening Biodiversity and Tourism
The growing cheetah population is not only a conservation victory but also a boon for eco-tourism in Madhya Pradesh. The presence of cheetahs in Kuno’s tourism zones, such as the Khajuri and Ahera areas, has attracted visitors, boosting local economies and creating employment opportunities. The state’s commitment to wildlife conservation, as emphasized by Yadav, includes plans to develop a 17,000 sq km cheetah corridor connecting Kuno to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, ensuring the big cats have ample space to thrive.
The recent translocation of Prabhash and Pavak to Gandhi Sagar, located 300 kilometers away in Neemuch and Mandsaur districts, is part of a broader vision to establish a metapopulation of 60-70 cheetahs across the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar landscape over the next 25 years. Despite challenges like prey availability and the presence of leopards in Gandhi Sagar, efforts to augment the prey base with chital deer are underway, signaling a proactive approach to long-term conservation.
A Historic Conservation Journey
Project Cheetah represents a bold effort to reverse the extinction of cheetahs in India, driven by habitat loss and hunting. The program, initiated with discussions in 2009 by the Wildlife Trust of India, has seen significant milestones, including the birth of 14 cubs on Indian soil before Nirva’s latest contribution. The mixing of South African and Namibian cheetah lineages, as highlighted by posts on X, enhances genetic diversity, crucial for the species’ long-term survival.
While challenges remain, such as ensuring adequate prey and managing human-wildlife conflicts, the success at Kuno reflects India’s commitment to biodiversity. Yadav’s post on X emphasized, “We remain committed to preserving wildlife and conserving biodiversity for future generations, and we will continue to honor the sacred land of Madhya Pradesh with such innovative initiatives.”
Looking Ahead
The birth of Nirva’s five cubs is a testament to the tireless efforts of Kuno’s monitoring teams, veterinarians, and Cheetah Mitras (local wildlife volunteers), who ensure the well-being of these big cats. As Kuno National Park continues to echo with the “laughter of little cheetahs,” as Yadav poetically described, the project paves the way for future expansions, with plans to introduce cheetahs to Banni Grasslands in Gujarat and further develop Gandhi Sagar as a second home.
This milestone not only celebrates the growth of India’s cheetah family but also reinforces Madhya Pradesh’s identity as the “land of cheetahs,” inviting tourists and conservationists alike to witness this historic revival of a once-lost species.
