Mukhi will become the first adult female cheetah born in India

Project Cheetah was launched in India on 17 September, 2022, under which the female cheetah Mukhi became the first cub female cheetah born in India and reaching adulthood.

• The female cheetah Mukhi, born in India, became the first cub born in India to reach adulthood. On 30 September, 2025, Mukhi turned 915 days old, symbolizing the first successful transition of this program from birth to adulthood.
• The survival of Mukhi, born from Namibian cheetah Jwala in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, is considered an important success amid concerns over high cub mortality and challenges of habitat adaptation.
• Mukhi was one of the four cubs born to Jwala on 29 March, 2023. Unfortunately, her three siblings died due to extreme heat, which is a recurring threat to India’s wildlife conservation efforts.
• However, Mukhi not only survived, but thrived – adapting to local conditions and reaching adulthood.
• According to project director Uttam Kumar Sharma, Mukhi’s development is an encouraging milestone and strengthens confidence in India’s long-term cheetah strategy.

Project Cheetah

• Project Cheetah was launched on 17 September, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs from Namibia in Kuno National Park.
• It was the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore, aimed at bringing cheetahs back to India more than 70 years after their extinction in the country.
• In February, 2023, 12 more cheetahs arrived from South Africa, bringing the total number of imported cheetahs to 20.
• Talks are underway with African countries including Botswana and Namibia to bring 8–10 more cheetahs by December to strengthen the gene pool.

Status of cheetahs in India

• 27 cheetahs are part of the Indian population, of which 16 were born in India, 19 cheetahs have died (9 imported adults and 10 cubs born in India). 24 cheetahs remain in Kuno, of which 3 have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The survival rate of cubs in Kuno is more than 61%, which is higher than the global average of 40%.
• These figures show that although mortality has been a concern, net growth, increase in population, and higher survival rate of cubs are signs of progress.