Overview
Project Cheetah, India’s ambitious programme to restore the species to the country after its extinction, has reached a major milestone. The cheetah population in India has now grown to 53 animals , including 33 cubs born right here in the country — the first local births in over 70 years.
The programme began when eight cheetahs were brought to Kuno National Park from Namibia on 17 September 2022 , followed by 12 more from South Africa in February 2023 and nine from Botswana in February 2026 . Between September 2022 and December 2024, a total of nine adult cheetahs and three cubs died from various causes.
With the success of the second generation and plans to expand the cheetah’s home beyond Kuno, India’s wild cat revival is making progress.
Latest News: Population Crosses 50 – India's Cheetah Count Reaches 53
India’s cheetah population has surged. With the arrival of a new litter of five cubs born to Namibian cheetah Jwala in late April 2026, the total number has crossed the 50 mark for the first time, reaching 53 . In February 2026, nine additional cheetahs from Botswana were brought in, including six females and three males, strengthening the founder population and improving the long-term genetic diversity of the group.
Why This Matters: A Species Brought Back After a 70-Year Wait
The cheetah once roamed across much of India, ruling the country’s grasslands and open forests. But decades of hunting and habitat loss took their toll. The species was officially declared extinct in India in 1952 , the only time the country lost a large mammal after independence.
Project Cheetah, launched on 17 September 2022, is the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore . At a total cost of about $11 million over five years, the mission is not just about returning a lost species — it also aims to restore degraded grassland ecosystems, improve biodiversity, strengthen prey populations, promote scientific wildlife management, and create a long-term sustainable cheetah metapopulation.
Project Cheetah Population Tracker
| Stage |
Details |
| 2022 (Initial translocation) |
8 cheetahs from Namibia |
| 2023 (Second batch) |
12 cheetahs from South Africa |
| 2026 (Third batch) |
9 cheetahs from Botswana (6 females, 3 males) |
| Total translocated |
29 cheetahs |
| Total Indian-born cubs |
33 |
| Total deaths (as of Dec 2024) |
9 adults + 3 cubs |
| Current population |
53 cheetahs |
How the Cheetah Population Build-Up Happened
Since the project began, the cheetah count has steadily grown. The new litter from Jwala marked the moment India’s cheetah population overtook the half-century mark for the first time. By early 2026, the number had risen to around 38 individuals. Over the project’s timeline, 39 cubs have been born in Kuno in total , with 27 surviving, reflecting steady progress with breeding success and adaptation.
This matters because the cheetahs started breeding within one year of reintroduction — a clear sign they are adapting well to Indian conditions. Females have now delivered multiple litters, and breeding cycles have tuned in to local weather conditions, which boosts the survival chances of the next generation.
Current Cheetah Distribution
| Location |
Cheetah Count |
Status |
| Kuno National Park, MP |
54 |
Core habitat |
| Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, MP |
3 |
Second home (translocated) |
| Total |
57 |
As of May 2026 |
Key Update: Cheetah Movement Between States
Cheetahs are already showing they can move across landscapes. As of early May 2026, two cheetahs of the first generation born in Kuno began moving across the state line into Rajasthan . The first cheetah crossed into Karauli district on 2 May, and the second followed two days later. Officials confirmed their movements are natural and no intervention is planned.
The Project Cheetah Action Plan explicitly anticipates and provides for inter-state movement within the Kuno–Gandhi Sagar metapopulation landscape , so this is perfectly normal.
Expansion Beyond Kuno: New Homes for Cheetahs
Kuno National Park will remain the core hub, but new sites are being readied to spread the population.
Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh
The first expansion started with three cheetahs — one female and two males — moved to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district as part of the broader plan. As of May 2026, Gandhi Sagar now has three cheetahs, all of which are living free within the sanctuary.
Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh
Nauradehi is now set to become India’s third cheetah habitat . The Rani Durgavati landscape, which now includes Nauradehi, was formally approved as a cheetah reintroduction site, joining Kuno and Gandhi Sagar. Preparations are underway.
Banni Grasslands, Gujarat
Gujarat’s Banni grasslands are also under active consideration, potentially becoming India’s first cheetah conservation breeding centre . A large facility covering around 500 hectares has been designed to emulate the rich Kenyan savannah — a habitat similar to what cheetahs naturally prefer. A team of experts has already submitted an assessment report confirming Banni’s suitability.
The plan is to move two females and one male from the latest Botswana batch to Banni, with more likely to follow. This will help spread cheetahs across multiple landscapes and connect them through a metapopulation framework, preventing inbreeding and improving the species’ long-term survival.
The Bottom Line for India’s Cheetah