Full Breakdown
African Cheetahs Reintroduced to Kuno National Park
8/11/2026, 11:48:07 PM
Core Event – First Release of African Cheetahs
On September 17 2022, eight African cheetahs—five females and three males aged four to six—were released from a quarantined enclosure into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The animals, a gift from Namibia, were fitted with radio collars and will stay in the enclosure for a month before the males and later the females are allowed to roam the park’s 748.76 km² of grassland. Zoologist Laurie Marker of the Cheetah Conservation Fund supervised the relocation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the cheetahs as part of a national program to restore the species in India.
Background & Context – Extinction and Earlier Reintroduction Efforts
The Asiatic cheetah once ranged across India, Afghanistan, Iran and the Middle East. Emperor Akbar noted roughly 10,000 cheetahs in his realm, including 1,000 in his court. Habitat loss, prey depletion and trophy hunting drove the species toward extinction; the last three recorded Asiatic cheetahs in India were shot in 1947. The species was declared extinct in India in 1952.
Reintroduction discussions began in the 1970s when India wrote to Iran for Asiatic cheetahs, but political instability halted the talks. In 2009, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh revived negotiations; Iran’s request for an Asiatic lion and India’s reluctance to export lions caused the plan to be abandoned in 2010. Kenya offered cheetahs as early as the 1980s, and a 2009 Wildlife Institute of India (WII) report recommended sourcing cheetahs from Africa.
A September 2009 expert meeting at Gajner, Rajasthan identified Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates as potential source countries and projected a need for 5–10 animals annually over 5–10 years. The Ministry of Environment & Forests approved a survey of four states—Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh—and shortlisted three landscapes: Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Shahgarh bulge in Jaisalmer. Kuno-Palpur historically supported Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, Asiatic lions and Asiatic cheetahs.
Timeline – Key Milestones
- Early 20th century – Rapid decline of cheetah populations across India.
- 1947 – Last three recorded Asiatic cheetahs shot in India.
- 1952 – Official declaration of extinction in India.
- 1970s – Initial request to Iran for Asiatic cheetahs.
- 2009 – Re-engagement with Iran; expert meeting at Gajner; WII recommends African sourcing.
- 2010 – Iran-India cheetah talks dropped.
- September 2022 – First African cheetahs released at Kuno National Park.
Data & Statistics
- Number released on 17 Sept 2022: 8 cheetahs (5 females, 3 males).
- Planned imports: 8 cheetahs from Namibia, 12 from South Africa, with a target of up to 40 individuals.
- Park size: 748.76 km² of grassland habitat.
- Historical cheetah counts: Akbar’s court recorded 1,000; BBC cites >=230 wild individuals (1799-1968).
Official Statements & Responses
Union Cabinet Minister of Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav announced that African cheetahs would be reintroduced to Kuno in September and that eight animals were expected from Namibia, with an additional twelve to be sourced from South Africa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally released the cheetahs, framing the effort as a step toward restoring India’s grassland ecosystems.
What’s Next – Planned Additional Releases
The government plans to bring twelve more cheetahs from South Africa later in 2022, followed by further imports to reach a total of approximately forty individuals. Ongoing monitoring via radio collars will inform future releases and habitat-management decisions.
