Bhopal June 20, 2026

A Congress MLA from Gwalior has sought a high-level inquiry into Project Cheetah, alleging possible irregularities in the management and verification of cheetahs released in Kuno National Park. In a letter to Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Vijay Shah, Gwalior East MLA Dr Satish Sikarwar demanded a joint investigation involving public representatives and senior officials to ascertain the status of cheetahs brought to India under the ambitious wildlife restoration programme.

In a letter dated June 16, the MLA requested a multi-level investigation involving public representatives and senior government officials. He alleged that information received from sources pointed to possible irregularities in the handling of cheetahs at Kuno and called for a detailed verification exercise. The letter also sought a proper count and physical confirmation of the cheetahs released in the park. The demand assumes significance as it comes just days before President Droupadi Murmu's scheduled visit to Kuno National Park on June 22 as part of her Madhya Pradesh tour. The President is expected to review conservation initiatives and the progress of Project Cheetah, which has emerged as one of India's flagship wildlife programmes.

Project Cheetah is one of India's most closely watched wildlife conservation programmes. The initiative was launched in September 2022 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs brought from Namibia into Kuno National Park in Sheopur district. The project marked the return of cheetahs to India more than seven decades after the species became extinct in the country.

The programme expanded in February 2023 with the arrival of 12 more cheetahs from South Africa. Since then, several cheetahs have been released into larger forest areas and many cubs have been born in India, making Kuno the centre of the country's cheetah restoration efforts.

According to the MLA's letter, allegations are being circulated regarding the fate of some cheetahs and possible financial irregularities linked to the project. The letter, however, does not provide documentary evidence for the claims. Instead, it urges the Forest Department to constitute an independent inquiry team to verify facts and place the findings in the public domain.

Since the arrival of the first batch of cheetahs from Namibia in 2022, Kuno has drawn sustained national and international attention. The project, later expanded with cheetahs from South Africa, continues to be closely watched by conservationists, government agencies and wildlife experts. Questions relating to management and transparency have also surfaced from time to time through RTI queries and public discussions.

Beyond Kuno, Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the country's leading wildlife state. It hosts some of India's most important tiger habitats, including Kanha Tiger Reserve, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Pench Tiger Reserve, Panna Tiger Reserve, Satpura Tiger Reserve and Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve. The state is also home to successful conservation programmes for tigers, vultures, gharials, barasingha and now cheetahs.

The Forest Department has not yet issued an official response to the MLA's request. Whether the government orders a formal inquiry remains to be seen, but the letter has added a new dimension to the debate surrounding India's flagship cheetah reintroduction programme. As Project Cheetah enters its next phase, attention is likely to remain focused on transparency, monitoring and the long-term survival of the animals in the wild.

When contacted, Kuno National Park Field Director Uttam Kumar Sharma declined to comment directly on the allegations contained in the MLA's letter. "We do not entertain baseless allegations unless they are substantiated by credible evidence," Sharma said. He, however, stressed that the Project Cheetah management regularly shares information with both the government and the public through official reports, press releases and newsletters. Sharma said the current cheetah population under the project stands at 52, including 49 in the Kuno landscape and three in the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Of the total population, 32 cheetahs have been born in India, reflecting the progress of the reintroduction programme.

The latest figures indicate that India has moved beyond the initial translocation phase and is now witnessing a growing population of wild-born cheetahs. Wildlife authorities have repeatedly described successful breeding as a key benchmark for establishing a self-sustaining cheetah population in the country.