Kuno National Park

22 Jun 2026

Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, gained prominence through Project Cheetah, India&amp;#039;s ambitious wildlife restoration initiative. The park symbolizes grassland conservation, biodiversity revival, ecological balance, and successful reintroduct

Syllabus Areas:

GS III - Environment & Ecology

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu visited the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh today (June 21, 2026). She took a tour of the Cheetah Management Area of the National Park and was briefed by the Divisional Forest Officer about the Project Cheetah.

What is Project Cheetah?

It is the world's first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore species. The project is being implemented by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India.

Project Cheetah was launched on 17 September 2022 at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. The first batch of 8 cheetahs arrived from Namibia (September 2022), the second batch from South Africa (February 2023), and the third batch from Botswana (February 2026).

Significance

1. Restoration of Ecological Balance: Cheetahs regulate herbivore populations and help maintain healthy ecosystems.

2. Grassland Conservation: India's grasslands are among the most neglected ecosystems. Project Cheetah brings attention to their protection.

3. Global Conservation: The project contributes to worldwide cheetah conservation efforts by creating an additional free-ranging population

Why was Kuno National Park Selected?

Kuno National Park was chosen as the first site for Project Cheetah due to its ecological suitability and conservation preparedness.

Suitable Habitat: The park has extensive grasslands, open forests, and savanna-like landscapes that closely match the cheetah's preferred habitat.
Abundant Prey Base: It supports a healthy population of prey species such as chital, sambar, nilgai, wild pig, and chinkara, ensuring adequate food availability.
Low Human Disturbance: Several villages were relocated from the core area over the years, creating a large, relatively undisturbed habitat for wildlife.
Large Protected Area: The park and its surrounding landscape provide sufficient space for cheetahs to establish territories and disperse naturally.
Potential for Population Growth: The habitat can support breeding and the development of a self-sustaining cheetah population.
Conservation Infrastructure: Kuno already possessed trained staff, monitoring systems, and wildlife management facilities necessary for a large-scale species reintroduction programme.