- India lost its native Asiatic cheetah in the 1950s.
- Under Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, India became the only country to successfully reintroduce cheetahs after extinction.
- Nature of project:
- World’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore
- Implemented under the broader framework of Project Tiger
- Action Plan: Based on the Cheetah Action Plan approved by the Government of India
Key Objectives
- Establish self-sustaining breeding populations of cheetahs in suitable habitats
- Restore and conserve open forest, grassland, and savanna ecosystems
- Use cheetah as a flagship species for grassland conservation
- Promote eco-development and eco-tourism
- Enhance local livelihood opportunities
- Reduce human–wildlife conflict through community participation
Implementing and Nodal Agencies
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- Statutory body under MoEFCC
- Overall supervision and policy oversight
- Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
- Scientific planning, habitat assessment, and monitoring
- State Forest Departments
- On-ground implementation (Madhya Pradesh is the lead state)
- Cheetah Project Steering Committee (2023)
- Set up by NTCA
- Monitors progress, evaluates outcomes, and advises on course correction
Existing and Planned Cheetah Habitats
1. Kuno National Park (KNP)
- Location: Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh
- First cheetah introduction: September 2022
- Current population: 28 cheetahs
2. Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
- Location: Mandsaur district, Madhya Pradesh
- Declared cheetah habitat: April 2025
- Current population: 2 cheetahs
3. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (Proposed)
- Location: Nauradehi region, Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh
- Status: Approved for cheetah habitat development
- Significance: Third cheetah habitat in the state
Conservation Significance
- Biodiversity restoration through reintroduction of apex predators.
- Ecosystem balance, especially in grassland and open forest habitats.
- Strengthens India’s global conservation leadership.
- Boosts eco-tourism and conservation awareness in central India.
Future Plans and International Cooperation
- Eight cheetahs expected from Botswana in January 2026.
- New cheetahs will primarily be introduced at Kuno National Park.
- Project Cheetah involves collaboration with African nations, drawing on their expertise in:
- Wildlife translocation
- Health monitoring
- Long-term cheetah management
