India’s cheetah population has reached 52 after four years of reintroduction, with 32 cubs born in the country, according to a status review of Kuno National Park’s program. The project, which began with eight Namibian cheetahs in 2022, now includes 49 cheetahs in Kuno and three in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, alongside surviving offspring and new arrivals from South Africa and Botswana.
The cheetah reintroduction program in India has reached a significant milestone four years after its launch, with the population rising to 52 as of September 2026. This includes 32 cubs born in the country, according to a status review published by Kuno National Park. The program, which initially introduced eight Namibian cheetahs on September 17, 2022, now includes 49 cheetahs in Kuno National Park and three in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, along with surviving offspring and new arrivals from South Africa and Botswana.
Cheetah Population Growth and Program Progress
As of September 17, 2026, Kuno National Park is home to 49 cheetahs, with 17 in the wild and 32 in Soft Release Bomas, including 19 cubs under one year old. The park’s review noted that 22 Indian-born offspring from the original eight Namibian cheetahs are now part of the population, bringing the total surviving Namibian-origin cheetahs and their progeny to 25. Similarly, 10 cubs have been born from the 12 South African cheetahs introduced in February 2023, increasing the South African-origin population to 18. Nine Botswana cheetahs were added in February 2026, further diversifying the genetic pool.
The program’s progress has been marked by key phases: the first year focused on adaptation, the second on breeding, the third on wild release, and the fourth on establishing self-sustaining populations. Four years on, the establishment of breeding females and survival of second-generation cubs marks an important consolidation phase in India’s cheetah reintroduction programme,
the review stated. Despite challenges, the initiative has moved beyond protecting introduced cheetahs to ensuring the survival of India-born generations in the wild.
Displacement and Resilience of the Sahariya Community
The cheetah reintroduction program has not been without controversy, particularly for the Sahariya community, an indigenous group that has lived in Kuno National Park for generations. Asmita Kabra, an economics professor who has studied the region since 1998, described how the Sahariya’s livelihoods—centered on harvesting chir (Indian frankincense) from salai trees—were disrupted when the government relocated them in the early 2000s to make way for the Asiatic lion relocation project. Though the lions never arrived, the Sahariya were left without access to their traditional lands.
We can’t live outside [the forest].
There’s nothing,
some displaced from the park told Ghazala Shahabuddin, a conservation biologist who has studied big cat relocations in India. The community’s struggle highlights the broader tensions between conservation efforts and indigenous rights.
Khushwa said. The Sahariya’s experience underscores the complex trade-offs in conservation, where ecological goals often clash with the rights and resilience of local communities.
Challenges and Future Outlook
While the cheetah population has grown, the program faces ongoing challenges.
Looking ahead, the focus will shift to expanding the program beyond Kuno. The success of second-generation cubs in the wild suggests the cheetahs are adapting, but long-term sustainability depends on habitat protection and community engagement. As the program enters its fifth year, the balance between conservation and human rights will remain a critical issue.
The cheetah reintroduction effort reflects both the potential and the pitfalls of large-scale conservation. While the population growth is a testament to the program’s initial success, the displacement of the Sahariya and the need for expanded habitats highlight the broader challenges of coexistence. As India’s cheetahs continue their journey, the story of their return is intertwined with the stories of those who have called Kuno home for generations.