Project Cheetah scores big: Indian-born Mukhi gives birth to 5 healthy cubs – Firstpost

Marking a landmark achievement and roaring history softly, the first Indian-born female cheetah Mukhi gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in Gwalior Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh. The remarkable development shows that the species are adapting, growing, and rebuilding its future on Indian soil.

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav took to X to share the historic milestone and wrote, “In a delightful breakthrough for India’s cheetah reintroduction initiative, Mukhi — the first Indian-born female cheetah, aged 33 months — has given birth to five cubs. This is the first time in recent history that an Indian-born cheetah has reproduced, making it a landmark achievement for Project Cheetah.”

Historic milestone for India’s conservation efforts!

Indian-born cheetah Mukhi has given birth to five cubs, marking a major breakthrough in the country’s cheetah reintroduction initiative.

Mukhi has now become the first Indian-born cheetah in recent history to reproduce. pic.twitter.com/uA147Qgly0

— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) November 20, 2025

Mukhi is now 33 years old and has set a new precedent for Project Cheetah. Project Cheetah was aimed to introduce the Cheetah, the only large carnivore species that went extinct in Independent India. This international endeavor was proposed to not only strengthen the efforts for global conservation of the Cheetah but also the re-establishment of his species in its historical range.

This milestone achievement marks the careful management of the staff at the Kuno National Wildlife Sanctuary and fulfillment of resources required to provide strength to Cheetahs in the wildlife setting.  

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India also wrote in a X post, “Indian-born cheetah Mukhi has given birth to five cubs, marking a major breakthrough in the country’s cheetah reintroduction initiative.”