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On 17 September 2022, the gates of a special enclosure in Kuno National Park, in Sheopur district, were opened, and eight cheetahs flown in from Namibia stepped into the Indian grassland. It was a historic moment: the cheetah — the fastest land animal — had been declared extinct in India in 1952, the only large mammal to disappear from the country in modern times. Project Cheetah, the world's first intercontinental translocation of a large wild carnivore, aimed to bring it back. For MPPSC, it is a major current affairs topic with strong links to environment, science and governance.
Background
- The Asiatic cheetah once ranged across India's grasslands and open forests.
- Hunting (including the use of captive cheetahs for hunting by royalty), habitat loss and declining prey drove it to extinction; it was officially declared extinct in 1952.
- Attempts to obtain Asiatic cheetahs from Iran did not succeed.
- India therefore turned to the African cheetah, under an Action Plan for Reintroduction of Cheetah in India prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Why Kuno?
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open woodland and grassland in the Kuno–Palpur landscape |
| Prey | Chital, nilgai, chinkara, wild pig and others |
| Earlier preparation | Villages had been relocated from the park earlier, when Kuno was prepared as a possible second home for Asiatic lions from Gujarat (which did not happen) |
| Status | Upgraded to a national park in 2018 |
The translocations
| Date | Source | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 17 September 2022 | Namibia | 8 cheetahs (5 females, 3 males) |
| February 2023 | South Africa | 12 cheetahs |
The cheetahs were first kept in quarantine and acclimatisation enclosures (bomas) and gradually released into the wild.
Outcomes so far
- Cubs have been born in Kuno — the first cheetahs born in India in about seven decades.
- There have also been deaths — of adults (from causes including infections, injuries and stress, and complications linked to thick winter coats in hot, humid weather) and of cubs (including from extreme heat).
- Some cheetahs have wandered outside the park into villages and neighbouring areas, requiring recapture.
- In 2025, cheetahs were also released into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (Mandsaur–Neemuch), the project's second site in MP.
Goals of the project
- Restore a lost species to India's ecosystems.
- Grassland conservation — use the cheetah as a flagship species for India's neglected grasslands and open forests.
- Ecotourism and local livelihoods.
- Scientific learning about large-carnivore reintroduction.
Criticisms and debates
| Concern | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Habitat size | Critics argue Kuno is too small for a viable free-ranging cheetah population |
| Prey and conflict | Leopards in Kuno compete with and may prey on cheetahs; cheetahs straying into villages |
| Climate | African cheetahs face different climatic conditions |
| Deaths | High mortality in the early years |
| Priorities | Some conservationists argued that resources should focus on endangered native species such as the Great Indian Bustard |
| Transparency | Calls for more open sharing of scientific data |
Supporters respond that early losses are expected in any reintroduction, that learning is continuous, and that the project draws attention to grasslands and savanna ecosystems.
Practice
Prelims-style:
- When was the cheetah declared extinct in India?
- On which date were cheetahs from Namibia released at Kuno?
- From which country did the second batch of cheetahs come?
- In which district is Kuno National Park?
- Which sanctuary is the second site for cheetahs in MP?
Mains-style (short): Why was Kuno chosen for the cheetah reintroduction?
Mains-style (long): Critically evaluate Project Cheetah as a conservation strategy.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission website .
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