From Kuno to new landscapes: India’s Project Cheetah expands, but survival remains a challenge

The death of an eight-month-old cheetah cub at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park on Monday has once again highlighted the uncertainties surrounding India’s ambitious effort to bring back the world’s fastest land animal.

The cub, one of five born to Namibian female cheetah Aasha, was found dead during an extensive search after forest personnel noticed that the mother was moving with only four cubs during morning monitoring. The cause of death is yet to be established, pending the postmortem report.

The loss comes as Project Cheetah enters a new phase, with the conservation programme expanding beyond Kuno to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (VDTR), where cheetahs were introduced on October 7.

Despite the setbacks, India’s cheetah population has reached 59, which includes 40 born in the country. Kuno accounts for 53 animals, of which 40 are Indian-born. Of the cheetahs at Kuno, 15 are currently ranging freely in the wild. Gandhi Sagar has four cheetahs, while VDTR has two.

The figures capture both the progress and the precarious nature of the project. The birth of 40 cheetahs in India represents a significant milestone in efforts to establish a population beyond the animals translocated from Africa. But the latest death is a reminder that births alone cannot guarantee the long-term survival of a species being reintroduced after decades of absence.

The programme has since evolved from a high-profile translocation exercise into a more complex conservation effort, involving animal monitoring, veterinary intervention, habitat management and the development of expertise in handling a species unfamiliar to contemporary Indian forest management.

Beyond Kuno: A larger conservation landscape

Kuno remains the heart of Project Cheetah, but the decision to establish populations in additional landscapes reflects the need to move beyond dependence on a single protected area.

Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary has emerged as the second major destination for the programme, while the introduction of two cheetahs at VDTR on October 7 marks another step towards expanding the geographical footprint of the initiative.

The broader strategy offers an opportunity to develop multiple habitats and build experience in managing cheetahs under different ecological conditions. It could also help conservation authorities understand whether the species can establish viable populations across a wider part of central India.

However, the presence of cheetahs at three sites does not automatically mean that three sustainable populations have been established. Each landscape must provide sufficient prey, suitable habitat, effective protection and the space needed for the animals to hunt, move and reproduce.

The challenge is particularly significant because cheetahs brought from African countries must adapt to Indian conditions, including differences in climate, vegetation, prey and disease exposure.

High temperatures, seasonal changes, and the demands of adapting to unfamiliar environments add to the difficulties of managing the translocated animals and their offspring.

The expansion, therefore, is not merely about increasing the number of locations. It is also an opportunity to develop a stronger scientific framework for the species' long-term survival.

40 India-born cheetahs: A milestone, not the finish line

The 40 India-born cheetahs represent an important development in the programme.

Reproduction in the new environment indicates that at least some of the animals have adapted sufficiently to breed. Their survival into adulthood and ability to reproduce will be critical to determining whether India can eventually establish a self-sustaining population.

But the death of Aasha's cub underlines the vulnerability of young animals. Cubs face risks during their early months, and their survival depends on several factors, including their health, access to prey as they grow, and the ability of their mothers to protect and raise them.

In Aasha's case, the circumstances surrounding Monday's death remain unclear. Until the postmortem report establishes the cause, it would be premature to attribute the loss to climate, disease or any other specific factor.

The incident also illustrates why continuous monitoring and transparent reporting are essential. Every death needs to be investigated, and the findings should inform future management decisions.

Equally, births, survival rates, breeding outcomes and the ability of animals to live independently in the wild must be assessed together to provide a meaningful picture of progress.

Of the 53 cheetahs at Kuno, 15 are currently ranging freely in the wild. Their movements, hunting success, and ability to establish territories will be important indicators of how the programme is progressing.