Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP), known as the first home to African cheetahs in India, has recorded a 19% increase in tourist visits in 2024–25 compared to the previous year, according to data released just ahead of its annual monsoon closure.
Between October 2024 and June 2025, KNP welcomed 3,833 visitors, including 21 international tourists, up from 3,221 in 2023–24. The park closes annually from July 1 to September 30 due to monsoon season.
Since the historic reintroduction of 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa between September 2022 and February 2023, Kuno has seen a steady increase in tourism. The most dramatic jump came in 2023–24, when the number of visitors soared by 121% compared to the previous year, coinciding with the cheetahs being released into the wild.
Tourist numbers at the park have climbed consistently over the years, from just 804 visitors in 2019–20 to over 3,800 this past year. The momentum is expected to continue as the cheetah population grows. As of now, the park is home to 10 adult African cheetahs and 19 Indian-born cubs.
In a recent development, the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district became the second site in India to house cheetahs, with two males, Prabhas and Pavak, transferred from Kuno on April 20, 2025.
The rise in tourist interest highlights the growing appeal of India’s big-cat conservation efforts and the potential of Kuno National Park as a significant wildlife tourism destination.
