Prime Minister Modi’s Project Cheetah Celebrates Two Years at Kuno National Park

The Central government’s Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing cheetahs in India, has successfully completed two years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the project on his 72nd birthday, September 17, 2022, by releasing eight cheetahs from Namibia at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, shared a video celebrating the project’s progress. He highlighted the challenges and successes, stating, “2 Years of Cheetahs! Two years ago, we embarked on a historic journey to reintroduce cheetahs in India after nearly 70 years. The project, envisioned by PM Narendra Modi, a pioneering effort globally, symbolizes hope for successfully restoring lost wildlife populations and ecosystems.”

Yadav also mentioned, “Today, as the world watches these Cheetah cubs thrive in their natural habitat, we celebrate not just their survival but also the resilience and dedication of all involved in these humongous efforts. This is just the beginning of restoring balance to our ecosystems. Many more milestones lie ahead.”

The video explained that a new chapter began in India’s wildlife story two years ago with the reintroduction of the fastest sprinter on earth, the cheetah, which became extinct in 1952. Project Cheetah, launched to revive their presence, is showing remarkable progress. Currently, there are 24 cheetahs in India, including 12 adults and 12 cubs born here.

“From Africa to the heart of India, they are once again part of our ecosystem. These cheetahs are not just surviving but also thriving here. Their presence helps to restore ecological balance and support local ecosystems,” the video added.

In 2022, eight cheetahs brought from Namibia were introduced in India under Project Cheetah. Subsequently, twelve cheetahs from South Africa were also translocated and released in Kuno National Park in February 2023.