Nine cheetahs from Botswana reached Kuno National Park on 28 February 2026 under Project Cheetah, strengthening the ongoing reintroduction programme after the cheetah went extinct in India in 1952. The batch will be relocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, which hosts the primary cheetah reintroduction site. India previously received 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa in 2022–23 under the same project. Project Cheetah is the world's first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation programme. The project faces challenges including cheetah deaths due to infections, radio-collar injuries, and territorial conflicts. Despite setbacks, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change remains committed to expanding the cheetah population, with Mukundara Hills in Rajasthan identified as a potential secondary habitat site for future relocation.
Nine Botswana Cheetahs Reach Kuno National Park Under Project Cheetah in February 2026
Nine cheetahs from Botswana reached Kuno National Park on 28 February 2026 under Project Cheetah, strengthening the ongoing reintroduction programme after the cheetah went extinct in India in 1952. The batch will be relocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, which hosts the primary cheetah reintroduction site. India previously received 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa in 2022–23 under the same project. Project Cheetah is the world's first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation programme. The project faces challenges including cheetah deaths due to infections, radio-collar injuries, and territorial conflicts. Despite setbacks, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change remains committed to expanding the cheetah population, with Mukundara Hills in Rajasthan identified as a potential secondary habitat site for future relocation.
Key facts
- India to bring 8 more cheetahs from Botswana by December 2025 under Project Cheetah.
- Cheetahs will be relocated to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, the primary reintroduction site.
- India previously received 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa in 2022–23.
- Project Cheetah is the world's first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation programme.
- Challenges include cheetah deaths from infections, radio-collar injuries, and territorial conflicts.
- Mukundara Hills in Rajasthan identified as a potential secondary habitat for future relocation.
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Which Rajasthan site has been identified as a potential secondary habitat for cheetahs under Project Cheetah?
Mukundara Hills in Rajasthan has been identified as a potential secondary habitat site for future cheetah relocations under Project Cheetah, the world's first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation programme.
Source: PIB / The Hindu
Frequently asked questions
What is Project Cheetah and why is it historically significant?
Project Cheetah is India's programme to reintroduce cheetahs that went extinct in the country in 1952. It is the world's first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation programme. India has received cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa (2022–23) and is set to receive eight more from Botswana by December 2025, all relocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Why was the cheetah extinct in India and when did extinction occur?
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) was declared extinct in India in 1952, primarily due to a combination of unregulated hunting (including by Mughal-era rulers), habitat loss from agricultural expansion, and the collapse of its prey base. India was the last natural range where the Asiatic cheetah subspecies was historically present.
Where are the cheetahs from Botswana being relocated and why was this site chosen?
The eight cheetahs from Botswana are being relocated to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, which serves as the primary reintroduction site under Project Cheetah. KNP was chosen for its savannah-like grassland and scrub habitat, adequate prey density, and manageable size, making it suitable for cheetah adaptation and monitoring.
What are the main challenges faced by Project Cheetah?
Project Cheetah has faced challenges including cheetah deaths from bacterial infections (septicaemia), injuries caused by radio-tracking collars, intra-specific territorial conflicts among cheetahs, and adaptation difficulties to Indian habitat conditions. As of 2025, a portion of the originally introduced population has died, necessitating the fresh import from Botswana to sustain population viability.
What is Rajasthan's role in Project Cheetah and which site has been identified as a potential secondary habitat?
Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan has been identified as a potential secondary habitat for cheetahs under Project Cheetah. Once the population at Kuno National Park stabilises and grows sufficiently, some individuals may be translocated to Mukundara Hills, expanding the species' range and reducing dependence on a single site.
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