Project Cheetah review: population at 53, of which 33 are India-born
A Project Cheetah review chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on 19 May 2026 reported 53 cheetahs in India, 33 of them born in the country, with Banni grasslands in Gujarat and Nauradehi in MP lined up for expansion.
Summary
Project Cheetah was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on 19 May 2026. The project began with a founder population of 20 cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa, later supplemented by 9 cheetahs from Botswana, and the population now stands at 53, of which 33 are Indian-born. Kuno National Park is the primary site and Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary an additional habitat, while habitat and prey preparation in the Banni grasslands of Gujarat has reached satisfactory levels. The next phase will add translocations, develop new sites such as Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, and build a metapopulation framework with continued sourcing of cheetahs from Africa.
Key facts
- Review
- 19 May 2026, chaired by Bhupender Yadav
- Founders
- 20 from Namibia and South Africa, plus 9 from Botswana
- Population
- 53, of which 33 India-born
- Sites
- Kuno NP (primary), Gandhisagar WLS (additional)
- Expansion
- Banni grasslands (Gujarat) prepared; Nauradehi WLS (MP) next
- Next phase
- More translocations; metapopulation framework
Practice MCQs 3 questions
As per the Project Cheetah review of 19 May 2026, what is India's current cheetah population?
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Correct answer: D — 53
The population stands at 53, of which 33 are Indian-born. 29 is the total of founders (20) and the Botswana batch (9).
Besides Namibia and South Africa, cheetahs for Project Cheetah were also brought from which country?
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Correct answer: A — Botswana
The founder population of 20 from Namibia and South Africa was supplemented by 9 cheetahs from Botswana.
Consider the following statements about Project Cheetah (May 2026 review): 1. Habitat readiness in the Banni grasslands of Gujarat has reached satisfactory levels. 2. Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is named as a new site for the next phase. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are in the PIB release: Banni preparation is satisfactory, and the next phase will develop new sites such as Nauradehi WLS in MP.