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Project Cheetah: India's Cheetah Population Reaches 52 with 32 Cubs Born in 4 Years

Target:MPSCUPSC GS-IIISSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
18 Sept 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:52 cheetahs32 cubs49 in Kuno3 in Gandhi Sagar8 from Namibia12 from South Africa
Bodies:Kuno National ParkGandhi Sagar SanctuaryNational Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.India's cheetah population reaches 52, with 32 cubs born in India as Project Cheetah completes 4 years on September 17, 2026.

2.49 cheetahs are in Kuno National Park and 3 in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, both in Madhya Pradesh.

3.Imports from Namibia (8 cheetahs, 3 alive), South Africa (12 cheetahs, 8 alive), and Botswana (9 cheetahs in Feb 2026) contributed to the population.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

India's cheetah population has grown to 52, including 32 cubs born in the country, as Project Cheetah completes four years. The milestone highlights breeding success and expansion into open forests, with 49 cheetahs in Kuno National Park and 3 in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. The next phase aims to expand suitable habitats and establish a long-term meta population.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Total Cheetah Population in India52 (including 32 cubs born in India)
Cheetahs in Kuno National Park49
Cheetahs in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary3
Namibian Origin (alive + cubs)25 (3 original + 22 cubs)
South African Origin (alive + cubs)18 (8 original + 10 cubs)
Botswana Import (Feb 2026)9 cheetahs
Launch Date of Project CheetahSeptember 17, 2022

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Total Cheetah Population in India: 52 (including 32 cubs born in India)
  • ›Cheetahs in Kuno National Park: 49
  • ›Target this Data: Total cheetah population in India = 52; cubs born = 32; Kuno National Park = 49; Gandhi Sagar = 3.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is the implementing agency for Project Cheetah.
  • ›Target this Date: September 17, 2022 – launch of Project Cheetah by PM Modi.

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/department is primarily responsible for implementing Project Cheetah in India?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding Project Cheetah:

1. The first batch of cheetahs was imported from Namibia and released in Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022.

2. All 8 cheetahs imported from Namibia are still alive as of September 2026.

3. The next phase of the project involves expanding suitable habitat and establishing a meta population.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

As per the article, how many cheetahs were imported from South Africa in February 2023?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary objective of the next phase of Project Cheetah as mentioned in the news?

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