India launched Project Cheetah in 2022 to reintroduce cheetahs, the only large carnivore extinct in independent India since 1952, primarily through translocation from Africa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called on wildlife enthusiasts across the world to visit India and “witness the cheetah in all its splendour” as the day marks International Cheetah Day.
“On International Cheetah Day, my best wishes to all wildlife lovers and conservationists dedicated to protecting the cheetah, one of our planet’s most remarkable creatures,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister added, “I encourage more wildlife enthusiasts from across the world to visit India and witness the cheetah in all its splendour.”
India is proud to be home to several cheetahs, and a significant number of them are born on Indian soil. Many of them now thrive in the Kuno National Park and the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. It is heartening to see cheetah tourism growing in popularity as well. I encourage more… pic.twitter.com/xPj5z6LWVM
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav with release the female cheetah Veera and her two 10-month-old cubs into the wild at Kuno National Park on Thursday to mark the International Cheetah Day.
India’s Project Cheetah
India launched Project Cheetah in 2022 to reintroduce cheetahs, the only large carnivore extinct in independent India since 1952, primarily through translocation from Africa. The initiative began with eight cheetahs from Namibia arriving at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in September 2022, followed by 12 from South Africa in February 2023, supervised by experts from the Wildlife Institute of India and Cheetah Conservation Fund.
PM Modi said, “Three years ago, our Government launched Project Cheetah with the aim of safeguarding this magnificent animal and restoring the ecosystem in which it can truly flourish. It was also an effort to revive lost ecological heritage and strengthen our biodiversity.”
On International Cheetah Day, my best wishes to all wildlife lovers and conservationists dedicated to protecting the cheetah, one of our planet’s most remarkable creatures. Three years ago, our Government launched Project Cheetah with the aim of safeguarding this magnificent… pic.twitter.com/FJgfJqoGeA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025
How cheetahs are thriving in India
India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction program has moved into a promising new phase, marked by steady population growth, expanding habitats, and strengthened international cooperation.
As of December 2025, the country now supports a thriving population of 32 cheetahs, including 21 India-born cubs—one of the most successful outcomes globally for a species reintroduction effort.
Local births have played a major role in boosting the population. In a recent milestone, an India-born female Mukhi gave birth to five healthy cubs in November 2025.
End of Article