In the year 2022, India brought eight cheetahs, including five females and three males, from Namibia, while in 2023, 12 came from South Africa. Currently, there are 26 cheetahs, including 16 in the open forest and 10 in the rehabilitation center, including 14 India-born cubs. Officials also shared that 24-hour tracking of Cheetahs takes place using satellite collar IDs

India is to bring eight more cheetahs from Botswana in southern Africa in two phases, including four by May. The information about cheetahs to be brought was given by officials of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

These officials had participated in a review meeting of the ‘Cheetah Project’ in Bhopal on Friday. The elite presence was of Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

The NTCA officials revealed that more than Rs 112 crore has been spent on the Cheetah Project across the country so far, with 67 per cent of the total expenditure going into Cheetah Rehabilitation in Madhya Pradesh.

More Cheetahs to be brought to India

Efforts are underway to bring more cheetahs from South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya to India. Eight cheetahs will be brought to India in two phases. There is a plan to bring four Cheetahs from Botswana to India by May. After this, four more cheetahs will be brought. At present, consent is being developed on an agreement between India and Kenya.

Under Project Cheetah, “cheetahs” will be relocated in a phased manner in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, which is adjacent to the border of Rajasthan. Therefore, an in-Principle agreement has been reached between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to establish an interstate cheetah conservation area.

Tracing progress in India's 'Project Cheetah'

Eight cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, brought from Namibia, were released in KNP on September 17, 2022, marking the first-ever intercontinental translocation of the big cats.

In February 2023, 12 more cheetahs were translocated from South Africa to KNP. In total, the Kuno National Park has 26 cheetahs, including 14 India-born cubs.

Update on Kuno National Park's Cheetahs

Giving an update about the cheetahs in the Kuno National Park, forest officials reported that there are 26 cheetahs, including 16 in the open forest and 10 in the rehabilitation center (enclosures). The official added that 24-hour tracking takes place using satellite collar IDs to monitor the cheetahs.

In fact, the Government of India has decided to introduce the Cheetah, the only large carnivore species that went extinct in Independent India. The Cheetahs for release into the selected sites in India are sourced from the ancestral South African cheetah and Namibian populations depending on the suitability and continued availability of animals.

This international endeavor will not only strengthen the efforts for global conservation of the Cheetah but also the re-establishment of his species in its historical range.

Bringing the Cheetah back to India has very vital and far-reaching conservation consequences.

With this, certain ecological objectives will be achieved:

• Re-establish the functional role of the Cheetah in representative ecosystems within its historical range. Here the cheetah will serve as a flagship to save not only its prey-base, but also other endangered species of the grassland and semi-arid ecosystems. Resources invested in these highly exploited and neglected systems will ensure better management and restore their ecosystem services for the country.
• Contribute to the global effort towards conservation of the Cheetah as a species.
• Additionally, Cheetah introduction is likely to improve and enhance the livelihood options and economies of the local communities.

An action plan for introduction of cheetah in India with emphasis on first release site- Kuno National Park as per the latest IUCN Guidelines had been prepared by joint effort of all stakeholders.

Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh is one the most unique destination for all wildlife lovers and enthusiasts. As soon as one ventures inside this park, they experience the exclusive forest of Kardhai, Khair and Salai and one can see wildlife by the dozens foraging across vast meadows. Some grasslands here are bigger than most at Kanha or Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

It is widely believed that Kardhai tree, which is found in abundance here, turns green even with just presence of humidity in atmosphere, even before the arrival of first monsoon showers. In many ways it represents the true spirit of Kuno’s – its never say die attitude and the ability to survive and ultimately grow despite many challenges this forest has overcome.

This area which has become a National Park today started out as a sanctuary of about 350 sq. kms. And was in shape of a leaf with Kuno river forming the main center spine.

Since the project of reintroduction of Asiatic Lions has been continuing for a while and one of the preconditions as raised by concerned authorities about the status of this protected area as Sanctuary not being worthy of hosting the lions, was upgraded to National Park while adding another about 400 sq kms to it.

It is now 748 sq km of pristine forest area. The park lies within the larger Kuno Wildlife Division which has a total area of 1235 sq. km. The real home of Cheetahs in India is Kuno National Park. On March 29, the first cheetah MUKHI was born in India, which has now turned two+! Kuno National Park celebrates her journey over the past two years, marking her transition into adulthood, and wishes her continued success in the wild.