- An 8-year-old female cheetah, Nabha, translocated from Namibia, died on 22 July 2025 at Kuno National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh.
- The cause of death is attributed to injuries sustained during a hunting attempt, marking another casualty in India’s cheetah reintroduction efforts.
About Project Cheetah:
- Launched: 17 September 2022 (PM Narendra Modi’s birthday)
- Objective: Reintroduce cheetahs in India, which were declared extinct in 1952
Implementing Agencies:
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- Madhya Pradesh Forest Department
- Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
Global Partners:
- Namibia (2022 – first batch of 8 cheetahs)
- South Africa (2023 – second batch of 12 cheetahs)
Phased Implementation:
Phase-1:
- Translocation to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh
- 20 cheetahs (8 from Namibia, 12 from South Africa)
Phase-2 (Planned):
- Considering cheetah imports from Kenya due to similar savannah habitats
- Translocation to Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary