Stories
Cheetah Comeback: India's Population Reaches 52 in 4 Years, 32 Born Domestically!
- •Project Cheetah marks four years since the reintroduction of cheetahs, declared extinct in India in 1952.
- •India's cheetah population has grown to 52, with 32 cubs born within the country.
- •The program began on September 17, 2022, with eight cheetahs from Namibia released into Kuno National Park.
- •Cheetahs are crucial predators, maintaining ecosystem balance by controlling herbivore populations and preventing trophic cascades.
- •The project has expanded beyond Kuno to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, with future plans to broaden habitats and support breeding.
Key Questions Answered
India now has a total population of 52 cheetahs following four years of Project Cheetah. Out of this total, 49 cheetahs are housed in Kuno National Park and the remaining 3 are located in the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, with both protected habitats situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Project Cheetah officially commenced on September 17, 2022, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. The initial phase involved releasing eight wild cheetahs brought from Namibia into special enclosures at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
As predators, cheetahs play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of herbivore populations by hunting small and medium-sized animals such as deer, chinkara, impala, and gazelles. By keeping herbivore numbers in check, they prevent excessive grazing pressure that can otherwise cause soil erosion and a loss of plant diversity.
