Two Years of Project Cheetah

An ambitious project of the Central government of reintroducing Cheetahs in India successfully completed two years after being declared extinct in 1952.The Cheetah Action Plan (CAP) is India’s initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into the country’s ecosystems.

What is Project Cheetah?

• Launched in: 2022
• Project Cheetah is India’s ambitious attempt to introduce African cats in the wild in the country.  Cheetah were the only large carnivore species that went extinct in Independent India.
• The project is the first-ever intercontinental translocation of the big cats.
• As part of the project, 20 cheetahs have been brought to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh so far -- eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023.
• Current status:
  • Since they arrived in India, eight adult cheetahs -- three females and five males -- have died.
  • Seventeen cubs have been born in India, with 12 surviving, bringing the total number of cheetahs, including cubs, in Kuno to 24. Currently, all are in enclosures.
• Objective: Introduce African cheetahs to India to conserve the species and restore degraded dry-open forest/savanna ecosystems. The cheetahs are intended to boost eco-tourism and benefit local communities.
• Timeline: The population is expected to reach Kuno National Park’s carrying capacity in about 15 years and the wider landscape in 30-40 years.
• Why Kuno National Park? Kuno was chosen as the most suitable location among ten surveyed sites due to its habitat and prey base. However, cheetahs have been held captive here longer than planned.
• Additional sites like Banni Grasslands in Gujarat and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh are being considered for cheetah introduction.

Current Issues with the Project

• Extended Captivity: The cheetahs have faced prolonged captivity, far beyond the planned 1-2 months. This extended confinement has led to concerns about their readiness for the wild.
  • Radio-collared males and females were supposed to be released in stages but have faced delays. The extended captivity may affect their ability to adapt to the wild.
• Cheetah Fatalities: Several cheetahs have died due to health issues or accidents. Problems include pre-existing health conditions, improper management, and environmental stressors.