India Roars Again: First Indian-Born Cheetah Becomes a Mother at Kuno!
In a landmark moment for India’s wildlife conservation, Mukhi, the first Indian-born female cheetah at Kuno National Park, has given birth to five healthy cubs, marking the first time an India-born cheetah has reproduced in modern history. Officials and conservationists are calling this a “breakthrough moment” for Project Cheetah, which began just three years ago. The news has sparked joy across the country and renewed confidence in India’s mission to restore the world’s fastest land animal to its former home.Why This Birth Matters: A One-of-a-Kind BreakthroughMadhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav called the birth “an unprecedented milestone” for India’s cheetah reintroduction initiative. For India, this moment represents more than just the birth of cubs; it is the first real proof that cheetahs brought from Africa can not only survive but also thrive, adapt, and reproduce in their new environment. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav echoed this, calling the birth a “significant development” that strengthens hope for a self-sustaining, genetically diverse cheetah population in India.The Journey of Mukhi: From a Lone Survivor to a Mother of FiveMukhi’s story adds a powerful emotional layer to this achievement. She was born on March 29, 2023, to Namibian cheetah Siyaya (later renamed Jwala) and male cheetah Shaurya. Mukhi was the only surviving cub out of the first litter born in India after cheetahs were reintroduced in 2022—a time marked by excitement but also challenges, including the death of female cheetah Sasha. Mukhi’s childhood was far from easy. She survived while her three siblings did not. She suffered a serious limb injury at just nine months old. Her survival depended heavily on 24/7 monitoring and medical care from wildlife experts. But she fought back. Mukhi recovered fully, learned to hunt independently, and grew into a strong, healthy adult cheetah, a living example of resilience and hope. And now, just like her mother, she has become a mother at almost the same age, creating a beautiful generational circle at Kuno National Park.Project CheetahCheetahs went extinct in India in 1952 due to hunting and habitat loss. After decades of discussion, the government launched Project Cheetah in 2022. On September 17, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight cheetahs from Namibia, the first intercontinental translocation of the species in history. This moment marked the symbolic return of a lost animal to Indian soil. Since then, India has brought additional cheetahs from South Africa, several cubs have been born, and conservation teams have learned to adapt the African cats to Indian landscapes. Today, India has 34 cheetahs—10 adults and 24 cubs—including Mukhi’s newborns. The country is also preparing to welcome eight more cheetahs from Botswana by late 2025 or early 2026.Kuno National Park: The New Home of the CheetahLocated in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, Kuno National Park has transformed into a vibrant center for cheetah conservation. The park now hosts 8 adult Namibian and South African cheetahs, 21 cubs born in India, Mukhi, and her new five cubs. Kuno provides an ideal environment with its open grasslands, which resemble African savannas. The efforts of the forest team, veterinarians, trackers, and wildlife scientists have been crucial in ensuring the survival of the cheetahs, especially the newborns. The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, added as a second cheetah home in April 2025, already houses a healthy South African male coalition and a female. This expansion reduces pressure on Kuno and helps strengthen genetic diversity.A Future Full of PossibilitiesThe birth of five cubs marks the beginning of a hopeful new chapter for Project Cheetah. With more cheetahs arriving soon from Botswana and expanding habitats at Gandhi Sagar, India is moving steadily toward its dream of creating a thriving, free-ranging cheetah population. What began with eight cheetahs in 2022 has now grown into a new generation, one born on Indian soil, one that may one day run freely across restored grasslands. Mukhi’s cubs are not just animals. They are symbols of a nation’s promise to its wildlife.
