When eight cheetahs from Namibia were released into Kuno National Park in September 2022, the move sparked both hope and hesitation. Three years later, that experiment has its first success story: Mukhi, a female cub born in Kuno, has officially grown into adulthood.
Cheetahs vanished from India in the 1950s. Their return under Project Cheetah, the world’s first intercontinental relocation of a large carnivore, marked a historic conservation effort. Since then, multiple litters have been born, signalling adaptation to Indian landscapes.
Today, India hosts 27 cheetahs: 24 in Kuno and 3 in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, with 16 born in India. The road hasn’t been smooth. There have been 19 deaths so far, including nine imported adults and ten cubs. Yet, India’s cub survival rate of 61% surpasses the global average of 40%, reflecting encouraging progress.
Despite weather extremes, disease, and adjustment challenges, Kuno’s population has grown by seven since the initial reintroduction. To secure long-term stability, India is in talks with Botswana and Namibia to bring in new cheetahs and diversify genetics.
Mukhi’s survival is a milestone, proof that India’s bold gamble is beginning to pay off, restoring a species once lost to history.
