According to the latest Project Cheetah progress report, goats and cattle together accounted for 50% of the detected kills by 19 free-ranging cheetahs in the Kuno National Park and wildlife division landscape, while chital (spotted deer) alone formed 42%. The report, covering September 2024 to December 2025, was released by the Union Environment Ministry. Among free-ranging cheetahs, chital made up 42% of detected kills, followed by goat (30%), cattle (20%), Nilgai (2%), and hare, sambar, chinkara, sheep and wild pig (1% each). The report noted ecological adjustments and dietary diversity, including small Indian civet kills and opportunistic preying on birds and small mammals. Free-ranging mothers with cubs such as Jwala and Gamini showed higher hunting frequencies, reflecting elevated energy demands; Jwala's group relied predominantly on domestic goats (40%). The report flagged predation on livestock, underscoring the need for negative-interaction mitigation and community engagement. Project Cheetah Director Uttam Kumar Sharma said prey density is healthy in core park areas at around 23 chitals per sq km, but low in the territorial forest where cheetahs prey on goats and cattle. Cheetahs have ranged across 12 districts, six each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan; male cheetah Agni explored 3,198 sq km within 30 days of release. Initiated in 2022, the project introduced a founder population of 20 cheetahs (8 from Namibia, 12 from South Africa), which has grown to 53.
Goats and Cattle Form Half of Cheetah Prey in Kuno, Chital 42%: Project Cheetah Report
Project Cheetah's latest progress report (Sept 2024–Dec 2025) found that goats and cattle made up 50% of detected kills by 19 free-ranging cheetahs in Kuno, with chital alone at 42%, highlighting low wild-prey density in the territorial forest.
Key facts
- Goats and cattle together formed 50% of detected kills by 19 free-ranging cheetahs; chital alone formed 42%.
- Among free-ranging cheetahs: chital 42%, goat 30%, cattle 20%, Nilgai 2%, and hare/sambar/chinkara/sheep/wild pig 1% each.
- The progress report covers September 2024 to December 2025 and was released by the Union Environment Ministry.
- Prey density is about 23 chitals per sq km in core park areas but low in the territorial forest.
- Cheetahs have ranged across 12 districts (six each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan); Agni explored 3,198 sq km in 30 days.
- Begun in 2022 with a founder population of 20 cheetahs (8 from Namibia, 12 from South Africa), the population has grown to 53.
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With reference to the latest Project Cheetah progress report on prey in Kuno, consider the following statements: 1. Goats and cattle together accounted for 50% of the detected kills by the free-ranging cheetahs. 2. Chital alone accounted for 42% of the detected kills by the free-ranging cheetahs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
According to the report, goats and cattle together made up 50% of the detected kills by the 19 free-ranging cheetahs, and chital alone formed 42%. Both statements are correct.
Source: The Indian Express
Frequently asked questions
What share of detected kills by free-ranging cheetahs in Kuno did goats and cattle together form?
Goats and cattle together formed 50% of the detected kills by the 19 free-ranging cheetahs.
Which single species was the main prey of cheetahs in and around Kuno?
Chital (spotted deer) was the main prey, accounting for 42% of detected kills.
What was the prey density in the core areas of Kuno National Park?
Prey density was healthy at around 23 chitals per sq km in the core areas, while it was low in the territorial forest.
How large was the founder population of Project Cheetah and where did it come from?
The founder population was 20 cheetahs, with 8 from Namibia and 12 from South Africa; it has since grown to 53.
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