**Executive Summary**
On May 19, 2026, a high-level review meeting chaired by the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change assessed the progress of Project Cheetah ahead of the International Big Cat Alliance Summit 2026. The project has successfully expanded the cheetah population to 53 individuals, with survival rates meeting or exceeding global benchmarks. Future actions focus on habitat expansion into new regions like the Banni grasslands and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary to ensure long-term sustainability.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Population and Breeding Success**
* The current population stands at 53 cheetahs, of which 33 are Indian-born, following translocations from Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana.
* Reproduction and acclimatization in Indian conditions have been successful, with survival rates for both adults and cubs aligning with international standards.
* **Scientific and Behavioral Monitoring**
* Monitoring indicates stable ranging behavior and effective prey utilization by the cheetahs.
* No significant physiological stress has been observed across different management settings, confirming the effectiveness of scientific monitoring protocols.
* **Habitat Management and Expansion**
* The project utilizes a landscape-based approach, with Kuno National Park serving as the primary site and Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary prepared for expansion.
* Preparatory work for new habitats is underway in the Banni grasslands (Gujarat) and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh).
* Habitat readiness and prey augmentation measures in the Banni grasslands have reached satisfactory levels.
* **Future Strategy and Consolidation**
* The next phase focuses on additional translocations and the strengthening of a metapopulation framework across interconnected landscapes in central India.
* Sustained sourcing of cheetahs from African countries is planned to maintain genetic diversity and support population growth.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Project Officials**
**Impact**
They are responsible for the strategic oversight and international coordination required to sustain the project's momentum.
**Action Required**
Coordinate upcoming translocations, manage the International Big Cat Alliance Summit 2026, and oversee the transition of the project into its next phase of expansion.
**Wildlife Conservation Experts and Field Officers**
**Impact**
Field teams and scientists must manage an increasingly complex and dispersed population across multiple sites.
**Action Required**
Continue rigorous scientific monitoring, implement prey augmentation in new sites like the Banni grasslands, and develop the metapopulation framework to facilitate genetic exchange.
**International Partners (Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana)**
**Impact**
These nations are critical to the project’s goal of maintaining genetic diversity through the continued supply of founder populations.
**Action Required**
Engage in sustained cooperation for the future sourcing of cheetahs as envisaged in the project's next phase.
Key Entities Referenced
Project Cheetah: A pioneering wildlife restoration initiative aimed at reintroducing cheetahs in India through translocation from Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): The primary ministry responsible for the implementation, scientific management, and high-level review of the cheetah reintroduction programme.
Kuno National Park: The primary site established for the reintroduction, acclimatisation, and breeding of the founder cheetah population in India.
International Big Cat Alliance: A global conservation framework and upcoming 2026 summit focused on big cat protection, under which the progress of Project Cheetah is reviewed.
Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary: An additional habitat site prepared to support the expansion of the cheetah population and facilitate a landscape-based conservation approach.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Project Cheetah: India’s Landmark Wildlife
Restoration Initiative Shows Strong Progress and
Promising Future
Posted On: 19 MAY 2026 5:02PM by PIB Delhi
A high-level review meeting of Project Cheetah was held today under the chairpersonship of the Minister
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, to assess the progress of the
programme and deliberate on the future course of action. The meeting was attended by senior officials of
the MoEFCC, project experts, and senior field officers associated with wildlife conservation in the
country.
With the first International Big Cat Alliance Summit 2026 just weeks away, chaired
a high-level review meeting of Project Cheetah to assess the progress of the
programme and deliberate on the future course of action.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of @MoEFCC,… pic.twitter.com/aC
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— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) May 19, 2026
Project Cheetah is a pioneering initiative aimed at reintroducing the cheetah in India after its extinction in
the country. The programme was initiated through the translocation of a founder population of 20 cheetahs
from Namibia and South Africa, which was further supplemented by 9 cheetahs from Botswana, through
coordinated international cooperation and scientific planning.
The project has recorded encouraging outcomes despite the inherent challenges associated with wildlife
translocation. The current population stands at 53 cheetahs, of which 33 are Indian-born. This reflects
significant growth driven by successful acclimatisation and reproduction in Indian conditions. Survival
rates of introduced individuals and cubs have been found to be in line with, and in certain cases better
than, global benchmarks, demonstrating the effectiveness of scientific management and monitoring
protocols.
The implementation strategy adopts a landscape-based approach for long-term sustainability. Kuno
National Park has been developed as the primary site for establishment of the population, while
Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary has been prepared as an additional habitat to support further expansion.
These sites are part of a larger interconnected landscape across central India to facilitate dispersal and
genetic exchange. Preparatory work is also underway to expand the project to new areas, including the
Banni grasslands in Gujarat, where habitat readiness and prey augmentation measures have reached
satisfactory levels.Scientific monitoring indicates that cheetahs are adapting well to Indian conditions, with stable ranging
behaviour, effective prey utilisation, and no significant physiological stress observed across different
management settings.
The next phase of the project will focus on consolidation and expansion through additional translocations,
development of new sites such as Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, and strengthening of
a metapopulation framework across identified landscapes. Sustained sourcing of cheetahs from African
countries is envisaged to maintain genetic diversity and support population growth.
Project Cheetah continues to make steady progress and stands as a globally significant conservation
initiative. With continued scientific guidance, institutional support and coordinated implementation, the
project is well-positioned for long-term success and is expected to contribute substantially to cheetah
conservation and restoration of open natural ecosystems in the country.
*****
VM/GS
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