Encouraging Indian Cheetah Population

March 10, 2026

The Namibian Cheetah named Jwala has given birth to five cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, and this has taken India’s total cheetah population to the half-century mark. According to Government record, thios marks a remarkable success for India’s Project Cheetah, as the endangered felines, reintroduced to the country just a few years ago, have seen a consistent, steady rise in numbers.

Union forest and environment minister Bhupendra Yadav posted photos of newborn cubs at Kuno National Park, the site of the first translocation of big cats from African nations under the Cheetah reintroduction programme some years ago, and called it “a moment of pride for India’s Project Cheetah.”

He called it a historic and heart-warming moment for wildlife conservation and informed that with the arrival of five new cubs, the total cheetah population in India has now reached 53.

Days ago, India’s ongoing Project Cheetah initiative saw the addition of nine cheetahs from Botswana, who were brought and released into Kuno National Park on March 1 this year.

The nine African cheetahs comprised six females and three males. They were flown from Botswana to India as part of a coordinated international operation. They travelled to India in a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III of the Indian Air Force.
What comes as a milestone in India’s big cat restoration programme is that the number of homegrown cheetahs has crossed the 30 mark.

With Namibian Cheetah named Jwala giving birth to five cubs, the number of Indian-born thriving cubs has risen to 33, marking the 10th successful cheetah litter on Indian soil—another important milestone in India’s cheetah conservation journey. This achievement reflects the dedicated efforts, skill, and commitment of the veterinarians, field staff and all involved who continue to work tirelessly on the ground.

Last month, a Namibian cheetah named Astha gave birth to five cubs on February 7 this year, at the Kuno National Park, thereby taking the number of Indian-born surviving cubs to 24. Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh welcomed another milestone in India’s cheetah programme as Namibian female cheetah Jwala gave birth to five cubs, taking the total number of India-born cheetah cubs to 33.

Jwala, part of the first batch of eight cheetahs brought from Namibia to Kuno on September 17, 2022, has now delivered cubs for the third time since her relocation to India.

The development comes over a week after the third batch of nine cheetahs — six females and three males — was brought from Botswana and released at Kuno National Park by the Union Environment Minister on February 28.

Last month, another cheetah named Gamini also gave birth to four cubs at Kuno National Park, further strengthening the growing cheetah population in the country.