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Project Cheetah: India-born KGP12 Gives Birth to 4 Cubs, Total Population Reaches 56

Target:MPSCUPSC GS-IIISSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
18 Sept 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:56 total cheetahs36 India-born20 African53 in Kuno NP3 in Gandhi Sagar WLS4 cubs born Sep 18, 2026
Bodies:MoEFCCKuno National Park
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.KGP12, an Indian-born female cheetah and daughter of South African cheetah Gemini, gave birth to four cubs at Kuno National Park on September 18, 2026.

2.This litter is significant as KGP12's previous four cubs were killed in a leopard attack in April 2026, just a month after birth.

3.Total cheetah population in India now stands at 56, with 36 India-born and 20 from African nations; 53 reside in Kuno, three in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

An India-born cheetah (KGP12) has given birth to four cubs at Kuno National Park, taking the total cheetah population in India to 56. This milestone comes a day after Project Cheetah completed four years, highlighting the progress and challenges of the world's first intercontinental cheetah reintroduction program.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Total Cheetah Population in India56 (36 India-born + 20 African)
Newborn Cubs4 (born to KGP12 on Sep 18, 2026)
KGP12 OriginDaughter of South African cheetah Gemini
Project Cheetah Completed4 years (as of Sep 17, 2026)
Cheetahs in Kuno NP53
Cheetahs in Gandhi Sagar WLS3

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Total Cheetah Population in India: 56 (36 India-born + 20 African)
  • ›Newborn Cubs: 4 (born to KGP12 on Sep 18, 2026)
  • ›Target this Data: Total cheetah population in India = 56 (36 India-born + 20 African); 53 in Kuno NP, 3 in Gandhi Sagar WLS
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) — Project Cheetah is under this ministry
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Cheetah declared extinct in India in 1952; Project Cheetah launched in September 2022 under the 'Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India'

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry is primarily responsible for implementing Project Cheetah in India?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements:

1. The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952.

2. KGP12 is a cheetah translocated from Botswana in February 2026.

3. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh currently houses three adult cheetahs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

As of September 18, 2026, what is the total cheetah population in India under Project Cheetah?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary objective of Project Cheetah, as highlighted by the recent developments at Kuno National Park?

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