India’s cheetah conservation programme marked a significant milestone with the birth of three cheetah cubs at Kuno National Park, taking the total cheetah population in the country to 38.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the development on Tuesday, stating that the cubs were born to Gamini, a South African cheetah and a second-time mother. The birth coincides with the completion of three years since the arrival of cheetahs from South Africa to India.
With this litter, the ninth successful cheetah birth has been recorded on Indian soil under Project Cheetah. The number of surviving India-born cheetah cubs has now risen to 27, reflecting steady progress in the ambitious wildlife restoration initiative.
Bhupender Yadav said that each successful birth strengthens Project Cheetah and demonstrates the sustained commitment of field staff and veterinary teams engaged in monitoring and protection efforts at Kuno National Park. He described the development as a moment of pride for both Kuno and the nation, expressing hope that the cubs will grow strong and contribute to India’s cheetah revival story.
Project Cheetah represents the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore. A total of 20 cheetahs were brought to India from Namibia and South Africa during 2022 and 2023 as part of the programme to reintroduce the species, which had been declared extinct in India in 1952.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally released the first eight cheetahs at Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022, marking the formal launch of the reintroduction effort. Since then, wildlife authorities have focused on habitat management, prey base augmentation, veterinary care and continuous monitoring to ensure the adaptation and breeding success of the relocated animals.
The latest births reinforce confidence in the ecological viability of Kuno as a cheetah habitat and signal measurable progress in India’s long-term conservation strategy. Officials view the growing number of India-born cubs as critical to establishing a self-sustaining cheetah population in the wild.
