Nine Cheetahs From Botswana Arrive At MP's Kuno National Park, India's Tally Rises To 48

Last Updated:February 28, 2026, 15:06 IST

Nine cheetahs from Botswana arrived at Kuno National Park, raising India’s cheetah population to 48.

Nine more cheetahs from southern Africa’s Botswana arrived safely at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, raising India’s total population of the big cats to 48.

The third batch of African cheetahs was flown to India on an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft as part of the country’s four-year cheetah revival plan. Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav is scheduled to release the animals into specially prepared enclosures at the park, news agency PTI reported, citing an official.

The cheetahs landed in Gwalior before being transported to KNP by IAF helicopters, according to Sheopur public relations officer Avantika Shrivastava. This batch follows earlier arrivals from Namibia and South Africa. The IAF has been a key partner in the programme, having previously flown cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022 and from South Africa in February 2023, Project Cheetah Director Uttam Sharma noted.

Sharma said the addition of more cheetahs will strengthen India’s conservation efforts to increase the big cat’s population to 50. Currently, 36 cheetahs remain at KNP, while three have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, a common precaution for endangered species.

Cheetahs, the world’s fastest land animals, were declared extinct in India nearly seven decades ago. Since 2023, 39 cubs have been born at KNP, of which 27 have survived. Last year, 12 cubs were born, but six did not survive. Between February 7 and 18 this year, nine cubs were born across two litters. Namibia-born Jwala and Aasha, South Africa-born Gamini, Veera and Nirva, and India-born Mukhi have all produced litters at the park.

News india Nine Cheetahs From Botswana Arrive At MP's Kuno National Park, India's Tally Rises To 48

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