President Droupadi Murmu wrapped up her trip to Kuno National Park after engaging with ‘Cheetah Mitras’ and members of the Sahariya tribe in Madhya Pradesh. She commended the ‘Cheetah Mitras’ for their role in Project Cheetah, as per an official statement.
During her visit, the President explored the Kuno National Park, specifically the Cheetah Management Area, and received an overview of Project Cheetah. Notably, in November 2025 during her visit to Botswana, she witnessed the symbolic transfer of eight cheetahs to Kuno in February 2026.
Project Cheetah underscores India’s dedication to biodiversity revival through the reintroduction of cheetahs following their extinction in the country. Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav lauded the officials and forest personnel as the country’s cheetah population has now reached 53, with 33 born in India.
The strategy for Project Cheetah emphasizes a landscape-based approach for sustainable management. Kuno National Park serves as the primary site for establishing the population, with Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary prepared as an additional habitat to support further expansion. These locations form part of a connected landscape in central India to facilitate dispersal and genetic interchange.
