Kuno National Park has recorded a historic milestone: Mukhi, a 33-month-old Indian-born female cheetah, has given birth to five healthy cubs, marking one of the strongest indicators yet that India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme is on the right track.
The birth took place yesterday, confirmed Uttam Kumar Sharma, IFS, the Field Director of Project Cheetah. “All five cubs and the mother are fine,” he said, describing Mukhi as the sixth cheetah mother at Kuno and the first female born on Indian soil to reproduce—an achievement that carries immense ecological significance.
A Project Built on Teamwork and Patience
Project Cheetah, launched by the Prime Minister on 17 September 2022, is India’s first intercontinental wildlife translocation effort. Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa were brought to Kuno following a detailed national action plan prepared by NTCA, the Wildlife Institute of India, state governments, and the Forest Department.
“We started with 20 cheetahs from Namibia, eight from South Africa, and now with these cubs, we have 32,” Sharma said. All management decisions, he explained, follow the official action plan and focus on creating conditions where cheetahs can behave naturally and reproduce independently.
Why This Birth Matters
Reproduction is central to the success of any reintroduction project. According to Sharma:
“If reproduction doesn’t take place, the project cannot move forward.”
With Mukhi’s cubs, the total number of cheetahs born in India has risen to 21—a strong indicator that cheetahs are adapting to Indian landscapes.
India is also safeguarding genetic diversity. Along with the founding 20 cheetahs, the country is preparing to bring more from Botswana, ensuring a robust gene pool for future generations.
Minimal Intervention, Maximum Wild Behaviour
When asked about steps being taken to protect the newborns, Sharma was clear:
“It’s the mother’s job. The cubs are in wild conditions and we do not interfere, especially in the initial days.”
This hands-off strategy mirrors global best practices in rewilding—allowing animals to develop essential survival behaviours without human dependence.
Learning From Early Challenges
Kuno experienced mortality cases in the initial phase, something Sharma says was always anticipated.
The project’s action plan predicted up to 50% mortality in the first year—standard for any wild translocation involving long-distance movement across continents.
However, the reality has been far more hopeful.
“We are way above the expected survival rate… and not a single unnatural death has occurred in Kuno,” he said. “We now have three years of experience behind us, and we are better prepared.”
How India Compares With Africa
India’s challenges are not unique. South Africa, for instance, lost its native cheetah population in the 1960s and attempted reintroduction between 1966 and 1996. Out of 10 sites, nine saw failure.
Even with far shorter distances between donor and recipient habitats, success was not guaranteed.
“Reintroduction projects are always difficult,” Sharma said. “But in India, despite the intercontinental translocation, we are moving in the right direction.”
He stresses that this is a long-term project, and while early milestones are promising, final success can only be judged years later.
What the Public Should Understand
Mukhi is not an isolated case. She is the sixth cheetah mother in Kuno, part of a steady pattern of reproduction.
Sharma emphasises the importance of public patience and perspective:
“Any single incident should not define the project. Look at the long-term results, the direction we are moving in, and the efforts behind it.”
He urges observers to view Project Cheetah not through isolated setbacks, but through the consistent progress seen across three years.
A Message to India
In his closing remarks, Sharma offered a clear message:
“Let’s have patience. Let’s wait. After a few more years, we can judge the project’s success. But right now, we have strong hope.”
With Mukhi’s five cubs adding to a growing lineage of India-born cheetahs, that hope is now stronger than ever.
