Five New Cheetah Cubs Born at Kuno, India’s Wild Population Rises to 35

Madhya Pradesh | 8 Feb 2026 Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh witnessed a joyful moment on February 7, 2026, with the birth of five cheetah cubs. The cubs were born to Aasha, a Namibian cheetah brought to India under Project Cheetah. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav shared the update, calling it an important step forward for cheetah conservation in the country. With this new litter, India’s cheetah population has now reached 35. This includes 24 cubs born on Indian soil and 11 adult cheetahs that were translocated from African nations. Most of the cheetahs are housed at Kuno, while three adult cheetahs have been relocated to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mandsaur and Neemuch districts of Madhya Pradesh. Officials said the cubs are healthy and being closely monitored without disturbing their natural surroundings. Announcing the birth on social media, Bhupender Yadav wrote, “Kuno welcomes the birth of five cubs. Aasha’s legacy leaps forward — India welcomes her five adorable cubs! A moment of immense pride and joy for Project Cheetah as Aasha, the Namibian cheetah and a proud second-time mother, gave birth to five cubs on February 7, 2026 at Kuno National Park.” He added that this was the eighth successful cheetah litter in India and described it as “a significant milestone in India’s cheetah conservation journey, undertaken and nurtured under the environmentally-conscious leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji”. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also welcomed the development, saying it reflected the hard work and commitment of the state’s forest staff and veterinarians. He praised the teams involved for their careful monitoring and dedication to wildlife conservation. Project Cheetah began on September 17, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs from Namibia into Kuno National Park. Later, 12 more cheetahs were brought from South Africa. The initiative marked the return of cheetahs to India after the species was declared extinct in the country in 1952. However, the project has faced challenges as well, with 21 cheetahs including nine adults and 12 India-born cubs having died since the programme began. Despite setbacks, officials say the latest births show that the long-term effort to restore cheetahs to India’s landscape is slowly moving forward. Five New Cheetah Cubs Born at Kuno, India’s Wild Population Rises to 35 Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh has welcomed five new cheetah cubs, bringing fresh excitement to India’s wildlife conservation efforts. The cubs were born on February 7, 2026, to Aasha, a Namibian cheetah living at Kuno. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav shared the news, calling it a proud moment for the country. With these births, the total cheetah population in India has now reached 35. This number includes 24 cubs born in India and 11 adult cheetahs that were brought from African countries. While most cheetahs are in Kuno, three adults have been shifted to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. Forest officials confirmed that all five cubs are healthy and are being watched carefully from a distance. Announcing the development, Bhupender Yadav said, “Kuno welcomes the birth of five cubs. Aasha’s legacy leaps forward — India welcomes her five adorable cubs! A moment of immense pride and joy for Project Cheetah as Aasha, the Namibian cheetah and a proud second-time mother, gave birth to five cubs on February 7, 2026 at Kuno National Park.” He also described it as “a significant milestone in India’s cheetah conservation journey, undertaken and nurtured under the environmentally-conscious leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji”. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the birth of the cubs reflects the dedication of forest staff and veterinarians. Project Cheetah began in September 2022 to bring cheetahs back to India after they went extinct in 1952. While the project has faced losses over the years, officials believe the new cubs are a positive sign for the future of cheetahs in India.