Five Cheetah Cubs Born at Kuno National Park, India’s Cheetah Population Rises to 35

India's wildlife conservation effort has taken a monumental step forward with the birth of five cheetah cubs at the Kuno National Park on February 7, 2026. This accomplishment will greatly enhance the ongoing narrative of Project Cheetah's success. The five cubs were born to Aasha, one of the Namibian cheetahs brought to India, making her a proud second-time mother and this litter represents the eighth successful cheetah litter in India. As a result, the number of cheetahs in India is now 35, including 24 India-born cubs. This information was made public by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and indicates that cheetahs continue to thrive within Kuno National Park, which has had great success in terms of conservation efforts. Furthermore, it directs attention towards cheetah tourism within Madhya Pradesh and ultimately demonstrates that Madhya Pradesh can be an important location for wildlife tourism across all of India.

Birth of Cubs Strengthens Kuno’s Conservation Story

Kuno National Park celebrates a new milestone as Aasha welcomes five healthy cubs, marking a powerful step forward in India’s cheetah revival story. With this joyous addition, the count of Indian-born cheetah cubs now stands at 24, taking the total cheetah population to 35. pic.twitter.com/mp0w8YmZMw
— Tour My India (@TourMyIndiaa) February 9, 2026

Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary took a major leap forward when five cubs arrived as part of India's cheetah reintroduction process.

Each destination here:

Aasha is now a second-time mother, having delivered her first litter in January 2024
According to Forest officials, both Aasha and the five cubs are perfectly healthy.
No human interactions have taken place during the monitoring of mother and cubs.
The successful birth of these cubs has directly impacted the growth of the Cheetah population at Kuno National Park, supporting the park's ecological compatibility.

Project Cheetah: Key Milestones So Far

Initiated in September 2022, Project Cheetah aims to repopulate a species that went extinct in India in 1952.

Some important milestones in the project's development are as follows:

The translocation of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa
A total of 24 cheetahs were born in India, marking a significant benchmark of conservation
Recognition as the world’s first intercontinental large carnivore translocation programme

While there have been some challenges, the increasing number of births is an indicator of the potential for long-term success in conserving cheetahs in India.

Expanding Habitats and Tourism Potential

Several new cheetahs are expected to arrive from Botswana later this month as part of the ongoing effort to provide for future growth. At the same time, many of the existing cheetahs in Kuno National Park will be moved to different wildlife reserves.

Transfers to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary are underway.
These measures are intended to lessen the load on Kuno and widen conservation areas.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav regards this development as a clear endorsement of MP's expansion of its leadership in wilderness management.

Project Cheetah: An Evident Success

Five cubs were born in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, and they represent a pivotal moment in the conservation story for India. As the number of cheetahs in India grows and protected areas expand, Project Cheetah has transitioned from a daring experiment to a global benchmark for conservation success with long-term ecological and tourism benefits.