Project Cheetah Success: India-born Mukhi welcomes five cubs at Kuno National Park, watch video

India-born cheetah Mukhi has delivered five cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on Thursday, describing the development as a “historic milestone in Project Cheetah”.

In a post on X, Yadav wrote, “A historic milestone has been achieved as Indian-born cheetah Mukhi has given birth to five cubs in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. The mother and cubs are doing well.”

He said the birth marks an “unprecedented” achievement for India’s ongoing cheetah reintroduction programme.


Mukhi, the country’s first Indian-born female cheetah, now 33 months old, has become the first cheetah born in India to give birth—an important moment for Project Cheetah, Yadav added.

According to him, “The successful reproduction of an India-born cheetah is a strong indicator of the species’ adaptation, health, and long-term prospects in Indian habitats.”

He further stated, “This significant step forward strengthens optimism about establishing a self-sustaining and genetically diverse cheetah population in India, further advancing the nation’s conservation goals.”

India reintroduced cheetahs on September 17, 2022, decades after the species vanished from the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight cheetahs—five females and three males—brought from Namibia into Kuno National Park, marking the world’s first intercontinental translocation of big cats.

[With PTI inputs]