New Delhi: International Cheetah Day on Thursday brought renewed attention to India’s efforts to restore the world’s fastest land animal to its historic range, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the cheetah “one of our planet’s most remarkable creatures” and reaffirming the government’s commitment to its protection.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “On International Cheetah Day, my best wishes to all wildlife lovers and conservationists dedicated to protecting the cheetah, one of our planet’s most remarkable creatures. Three years ago, our Government launched Project Cheetah with the aim of safeguarding this magnificent animal and restoring the ecosystem in which it can truly flourish. It was also an effort to revive lost ecological heritage and strengthen our biodiversity.”

On International Cheetah Day, my best wishes to all wildlife lovers and conservationists dedicated to protecting the cheetah, one of our planet’s most remarkable creatures. Three years ago, our Government launched Project Cheetah with the aim of safeguarding this magnificent… pic.twitter.com/FJgfJqoGeA

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025

He added that India is now home to several cheetahs, many of them born on Indian soil, and highlighted their presence in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. “It is heartening to see cheetah tourism growing in popularity as well. I encourage more wildlife enthusiasts from across the world to visit India and witness the cheetah in all its splendour,” he said.
The Prime Minister also shared photographs to mark the occasion.

India’s Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, set out to reintroduce the species seven decades after it went extinct in the country. The programme brought eight cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022, followed by 12 from South Africa in February 2023. The translocation from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana is regarded as one of India’s most ambitious wildlife conservation efforts, aimed at restoring a lost ecological niche.

As of December 2025, the cheetah population in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary stands at 32, including 21 Indian-born cubs. The births have played a major role in expanding the population. In November 2025, an Indian-born female cheetah, Mukhi, delivered five healthy cubs, marking a significant moment for the project.

Officials have confirmed that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will release three cheetahs from a large enclosure into the open forest of Kuno National Park on Thursday. The release will increase the number of free-roaming cheetahs in the park from 16 to 19. Preparations have been completed by the Forest Department and park authorities, with tracking teams and monitoring units ready to observe the cheetahs’ movement in their natural habitat.

Project Cheetah is being implemented by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India. The initiative has received national recognition, including the Innovative Initiatives Award, for its progress over the last three years. Six litters have been born across five female cheetahs since the project began, showing that the animals are adapting and breeding in Indian conditions.

International Cheetah Day is observed every year to draw attention to the challenges faced by the species, including habitat loss, a shrinking prey base and poaching, while highlighting the need for sustained global action to protect and rebuild cheetah populations.

BI Bureau

PM Modi’s Cheetah Day note captures India’s big leap in bringing the big cat home

New Delhi: International Cheetah Day on Thursday brought renewed attention to India’s efforts to restore the world’s fastest land animal to its historic range, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the cheetah “one of our planet’s most remarkable creatures” and reaffirming the government’s commitment to its protection.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “On International Cheetah Day, my best wishes to all wildlife lovers and conservationists dedicated to protecting the cheetah, one of our planet’s most remarkable creatures. Three years ago, our Government launched Project Cheetah with the aim of safeguarding this magnificent animal and restoring the ecosystem in which it can truly flourish. It was also an effort to revive lost ecological heritage and strengthen our biodiversity.”
He added that India is now home to several cheetahs, many of them born on Indian soil, and highlighted their presence in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. “It is heartening to see cheetah tourism growing in popularity as well. I encourage more wildlife enthusiasts from across the world to visit India and witness the cheetah in all its splendour,” he said.
The Prime Minister also shared photographs to mark the occasion.

India’s Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, set out to reintroduce the species seven decades after it went extinct in the country. The programme brought eight cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022, followed by 12 from South Africa in February 2023. The translocation from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana is regarded as one of India’s most ambitious wildlife conservation efforts, aimed at restoring a lost ecological niche.

As of December 2025, the cheetah population in Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary stands at 32, including 21 Indian-born cubs. The births have played a major role in expanding the population. In November 2025, an Indian-born female cheetah, Mukhi, delivered five healthy cubs, marking a significant moment for the project.

Officials have confirmed that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will release three cheetahs from a large enclosure into the open forest of Kuno National Park on Thursday. The release will increase the number of free-roaming cheetahs in the park from 16 to 19. Preparations have been completed by the Forest Department and park authorities, with tracking teams and monitoring units ready to observe the cheetahs’ movement in their natural habitat.

Project Cheetah is being implemented by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India. The initiative has received national recognition, including the Innovative Initiatives Award, for its progress over the last three years. Six litters have been born across five female cheetahs since the project began, showing that the animals are adapting and breeding in Indian conditions.

International Cheetah Day is observed every year to draw attention to the challenges faced by the species, including habitat loss, a shrinking prey base and poaching, while highlighting the need for sustained global action to protect and rebuild cheetah populations.

BI Bureau