Project Cheetah – India Plans New Cheetah Translocations 

India is gearing up to welcome a new batch of African cheetahs as part of its ambitious Project Cheetah, aimed at restoring the species in Indian habitats after it was declared extinct in the country in the 1950s. Under the supervision of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), in collaboration with international partners and state forest departments, new translocations are scheduled from Botswana and possibly Kenya by May 2025.

This is part of a long-term strategy to strengthen cheetah populations and establish a self-sustaining ecosystem within Indian reserves.

Key Developments and Conservation Highlights

Upcoming Translocation

• Eight cheetahs will be brought from Botswana in two separate phases.
• Four are expected by May 2025, while discussions for the remaining four are ongoing.
• India is also in talks with Kenya to facilitate additional translocations in the future.
• These efforts aim to introduce genetic diversity into India’s cheetah population and expand breeding possibilities.

Current Cheetah Status in India

• As of now, 26 cheetahs are residing in Kuno National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh.
  
  • 16 live in open forest zones, while 10 are housed in enclosures.
  • The group includes 14 India-born cubs, offspring of cheetahs such as Jwala, Asha, Gamini, and Veera — a positive indicator of adaptation and breeding success.

Expansion to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

• Plans are underway to expand cheetah habitation to the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, also in Madhya Pradesh.
• An inter-state coordination mechanism is being set up between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to ensure joint conservation, habitat management, and protection protocols.

Monitoring and Local Capacity Building

• Every cheetah is fitted with a satellite collar to allow for 24/7 tracking and behavioural monitoring.
• Additionally, “cheetah mitras”, or local volunteers, are being trained extensively at both Kuno and Gandhi Sagar sites.
  • This training will enhance community participation and support grassroots-level conservation efforts.

Project Funding and Progress

• Over ₹112 crore has been invested in Project Cheetah so far.
• Around 67% of this amount has been spent in Madhya Pradesh, especially on habitat rehabilitation and prey base strengthening.
• Previous phases of the project:
  • India first introduced 8 cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022.
  • This was followed by 12 cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023.
• Recently, the Madhya Pradesh government approached the Supreme Court for permission to establish a second cheetah safari in Kuno — aimed at boosting eco-tourism without compromising ecological safety.

Conclusion

Project Cheetah is steadily becoming one of India’s flagship conservation programmes. The upcoming translocations from Botswana and possibly Kenya signal India’s continued commitment to restoring its lost biodiversity. With the successful breeding of cubs and planned expansions into newer sanctuaries, the project is progressing from experimental reintroduction to long-term sustainability.