Bhopal/Sheopur May 11, 2026. Madhya Pradesh added another important chapter to India’s wildlife conservation journey on May 11 (Monday) as two more female cheetahs were released into the open forest at Kuno National Park. The cheetahs, brought from Botswana earlier this year, walked out of their enclosures and quickly disappeared into the forest landscape, marking another milestone for Project Cheetah. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav visited Kuno National Park and personally released the two female cheetahs into the wild. Officials and forest staff present at the site described the moment as significant for both Madhya Pradesh and India’s wildlife conservation programme.

Interestingly, the release came just a day after Mother’s Day, at a time when female cheetahs and their cubs have emerged as the strongest pillar of India’s cheetah recovery programme over the past three-and-a-half years. By Mother’s Day 2026 (May 10), India’s cheetah population has reached 57. Of the six female cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa, five have successfully reproduced. One female has given birth three times, three females have reproduced twice each, while one female has reproduced once. In addition, two Indian-born female cheetahs have also become mothers. Together, these cheetah mothers have produced 49 cubs so far. Out of them, 37 cubs are surviving and thriving, taking India’s total cheetah population to 57. Wildlife officials describe this as one of the strongest indicators that the project is gradually moving towards long-term stability.

Speaking after the release, the Chief Minister said Madhya Pradesh has wholeheartedly accepted the cheetahs as part of its family. He said Project Cheetah, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi nearly three-and-a-half years ago, is steadily moving towards success. According to him, the state is continuously setting new benchmarks in cheetah rehabilitation and wildlife management. Dr. Yadav said Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a major centre for biodiversity, wildlife conservation and ecological restoration. He added that cheetahs brought from Namibia, South Africa and now Botswana are adapting successfully to Indian conditions. With the latest release, the total cheetah population in India has reached 57. Out of these, 54 are currently in and around Kuno National Park, while three are at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Officials said cheetahs in and around Kuno now occupy a landscape spread across more than 5,000 sq km. This includes the Kuno Wildlife Division, large parts of the Sheopur Forest Division, and sections of the Gwalior and Morena forest divisions. Some cheetahs have also explored forest areas in neighbouring Rajasthan. At present, 15 cheetahs are living freely in the wild across this landscape. Forest officials say their ability to adapt, survive and move across such a vast region over the last one-and-a-half years has been remarkable. Indian-born cheetahs are also playing an important role in expanding this landscape.

The Chief Minister said some cheetahs are now regularly moving across Chambal region forests, including parts of Shivpuri, Rajgarh and adjoining areas. He praised forest officials, veterinarians, field staff and local communities for supporting the ambitious conservation effort. Dr. Yadav described the project as a unique example of coexistence between wildlife and people. According to him, local communities and forest teams have developed a strong emotional connection with the animals. He said the cheetahs are gradually learning to live independently in Indian forests and are becoming part of the natural ecosystem.

The two cheetahs released on Monday were among the nine cheetahs brought from Botswana in February this year. The group included six females and three males. After arriving in India, the animals were first kept in quarantine and later shifted to smaller enclosures to help them adapt to local climatic and ecological conditions. Wildlife experts believe the Botswana cheetahs have added important genetic diversity to the population. The presence of cheetahs from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana has significantly reduced the risk of inbreeding and strengthened the long-term genetic base of the population. Experts say the emergence of India’s first F2 generation is another major milestone. It suggests that the population is slowly moving from the reintroduction phase to the establishment phase, where cheetahs begin sustaining themselves naturally in the landscape. Officials are now preparing future expansion plans for other protected areas, including Gandhi Sagar and Nauradehi sanctuaries. Scientists are also working on long-term genetic management strategies to maintain maximum diversity by carefully balancing Namibian, South African, Botswanan and Indian-born cheetahs in future populations. Project Cheetah began on September 17, 2022, when eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia to Kuno. In 2023, another 12 cheetahs arrived from South Africa. The Botswana cheetahs were transported to India aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft and later airlifted by helicopter to Kuno. The long-term objective of Project Cheetah is to restore the species in India, strengthen grassland ecosystems and eventually allow cheetahs to hunt, breed and roam freely across suitable habitats once again. On this occasion, PCCF & Head of Forest Force Shubranjan Sen and Chief Wildlife Warden Dr. Sameeta Rajora were also present.