Five cubs born to Namibian cheetah at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park; population rises to 35

Five new cheetah cubs have been born to a Namibian cheetah Aasha in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP), Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said on Saturday (February 7, 2026). 

With the fresh litter, the cheetah population in India has reached 35, which include 24 cubs born in India and 11 adults translocated from African countries. Apart from Kuno, three adult cheetahs currently reside in the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in M.P.’s Mandsaur and Neemuch districts. 

Kuno Field Director and Project Cheetah Director Uttam Kumar Sharma told The Hindu that all five cubs are healthy and doing well, and that a team is keeping a watch on them from a distance without disturbing them. 

“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,” Mr. Bhupender Yadav announced on X. 

Sharing a video of the cubs, the Union Minister said that this is the eighth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil, “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 that the development reflected the dedication of State’s forest staff and veterinarians. 

“With this, the number of Indian-born cubs rises to 24 and the total cheetah population reaches 35. This achievement reflects the tireless dedication of our forest staff and veterinarians. The state is emerging as an epicentre for wildlife conservation,” Mr. Mohan Yadav said in an X post. 

Project Cheetah, India’s cheetah reintroduction programme was kickstarted on September 17, 2022, with Mr. Modi releasing eight Cheetahs, translocated from Namibia, at Kuno. Later, 12 cheetahs were also brought from South Africa and released at Kuno. The species had gone extinct from the country in 1952.

However, since the beginning of the ambitious programme, 21 Cheetahs — nine translocated adults and 12 India-born cubs— have died at Kuno due to various causes.