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Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate change Bhupendra Yadav in his twit on ‘X’ account said, Kuno Welcomes the Birth of FIVE Cubs
A moment of immense pride and joy for Project Cheetah as Aasha, the Namibian cheetah and a proud second-time mother, gave birth to five cubs on 7th February 2026 at Kuno National Park. With this, the tally of Indian-born surviving cubs rises to 24, marking the eighth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil—a significant milestone in India’s cheetah conservation journey, undertaken and nurtured under the environmentally-conscious leadership of PM Narendra Modi Ji.
This joyous achievement stands as a shining testimony to the unwavering dedication, skill, and commitment of the field staff and veterinarians working tirelessly on the ground. May Aasha and her cubs thrive, flourish, and sprint India’s cheetah story to even greater success. With their arrival, the total cheetah population in India now stands at 35.
A truly historic and heart-warming moment for wildlife conservation in India
The Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav in his ‘X’ account twitted on the intervening night of 6th/7th February, the Kuno has witnessed a moment of pure pride as Aasha gives birth to five healthy cubs, strengthening India’s cheetah conservation journey. With this, the number of Indian-born cubs rises to 24 and the total cheetah population reaches 35. This achievement reflects the tireless dedication of our forest staff and veterinarians. The state is emerging as an epicenter for wildlife conservation.
Launched in 2022, the programme has encountered a range of challenges, including habitat adaptation, health management, and ensuring the survival of cubs born in the wild. Wildlife officials and conservation experts have worked closely with local communities to address these hurdles, refining monitoring systems and strengthening on-ground infrastructure to improve survival outcomes. Despite early setbacks, the sight of cheetah cubs now exploring their natural habitat has been described by project authorities as a significant achievement. “The journey has not been easy,” a senior project official said. “But watching these cheetahs adapt and seeing cubs born in the wild is immensely rewarding. This is only the beginning. There are many more milestones ahead in our effort to restore ecological balance.” As the project progresses to its next phase, conservationists say its long-term success will depend on sustained scientific management, community participation, and continued policy support — elements they believe are crucial for securing a stable future for the world’s fastest land animal on Indian soil.
Earlier on September 17, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch (on his birthday) of eight cheetahs translocated from Namibia into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, marking the formal launch of India’s ambitious Cheetah Reintroduction Project. In February 2023, a second batch of 12 cheetahs arrived from South Africa, taking the total number to 20. The Prime Minister, known for his interest in wildlife and photography, captured the moment of the cheetahs’ release into their enclosure with his zoom-lens SLR camera — an image that quickly went viral and underscored the symbolic significance of the occasion.
The reintroduction of cheetahs to Indian soil, after an absence of nearly seven decades, has been hailed as a historic milestone in global conservation efforts. The project represents more than the return of a species declared extinct in India in 1952; it signals a broader commitment to restoring degraded ecosystems and reviving lost wildlife populations. The initiative aligns with the government’s stated emphasis on environmental stewardship and sustainable development. As the project progresses to its next phase, conservationists say its long-term success will depend on sustained scientific management, community participation, and continued policy support — elements they believe are crucial for securing a stable future for the world’s fastest land animal on Indian soil.
Kuno-Palpur National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district — located about 420 km from Bhopal — has emerged as the first home of cheetahs in India following their reintroduction after nearly seven decades. Spread across 1,777 sq km of core and buffer zones, the park is being developed as a full-fledged jungle safari destination, combining expansive grasslands, diverse flora and fauna, and proximity to the aquatic ecosystem of the Chambal river. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Thirukural R. said the landscape offers a complete wildlife experience for enthusiasts. “With its unique mix of forest, grassland and riverine habitat, Kuno provides an ideal setting not only for cheetahs but also for eco-tourism and conservation education,” he noted. Madhya Pradesh, known for its dense forests, historic monuments, rivers, forts and rich cultural heritage, was selected by the Union government as the site for the ambitious cheetah translocation project. The species had been declared extinct in India in 1952. In 2022 and 2023, a total of 20 cheetahs were relocated from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno amid significant public attention and global interest.
Kuno National Park was identified as the most suitable habitat after extensive scientific assessment. Officials cited its robust prey base — including chinkara, spotted deer and blackbuck — as a key factor in the selection. To facilitate the reintroduction, the park’s infrastructure was upgraded, frontline staff received specialized training, and measures were taken to reduce competition from larger predators, including the relocation of some leopards from the core area.
With habitat preparation and wildlife management systems in place, Kuno now stands at the centre of one of the world’s most closely watched conservation experiments — the return of the cheetah to Indian soil.
