Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav released two female cheetahs into the wild at Kuno National Park on Monday [1].
The release is a key milestone for Project Cheetah, an ambitious initiative to re-introduce the species to India and restore regional biodiversity. By establishing a sustainable wild population, the state aims to enhance wildlife conservation efforts, and ecological balance within the Sheopur district [2].
The two cheetahs, identified as CCV-2 and CCV-3 [1], were brought to India from Botswana in February 2026 [3]. They were released into their natural habitat after completing a mandatory quarantine period and an acclimatization process [3].
"Madhya Pradesh has scripted a new chapter in history," Dr. Mohan Yadav said. "Today, at Kuno National Park, we released two female cheetahs, brought from Botswana, into the open wild and natural habitat, thereby embodying the spirit of coexistence with nature" [4].
The Chief Minister said that the state is now recognized as a "Cheetah State" following the release of these two animals [1]. The project focuses on integrating the cats into the wild to ensure they can hunt and survive independently in the Kuno forest [2].
This latest addition follows previous phases of the re-introduction program, which has faced various challenges in stabilizing the population. The February batch of cheetahs was specifically selected to bolster the female population to support future breeding cycles [3].
“"Madhya Pradesh has scripted a new chapter in history."”
The designation of Madhya Pradesh as a 'Cheetah State' signals a political and ecological shift toward prioritizing the re-establishment of apex predators in Indian grasslands. By focusing on female cheetahs from Botswana, officials are attempting to create a viable breeding nucleus that can sustain the population without constant international imports.
