05 October,2026 03:20 PM IST | Madhya Pradesh | mid-day online correspondent
KJP21 is the third Indian-born female cheetah to give birth, following Mukhi and KGP12. Pic/ X
An Indian-born female cheetah has given birth to five cubs at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, taking India's cheetah population to 60, including 41 born in the country, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Monday.
The 32-month-old cheetah, identified as KJP21, gave birth to the cubs on October 5, marking another milestone for Project Cheetah.
Yadav, who is also the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, announced the development in a post on X, describing it as a "historic and joyous milestone" for Project Cheetah.
KJP21 is the third Indian-born female cheetah to give birth, following Mukhi and KGP12, according to Yadav. The birth marks another step in the establishment of a new generation of cheetahs born on Indian soil.
The five cubs also mark the beginning of the Botswanan lineage in India, as their father is a male cheetah from Botswana, Yadav said.
The development adds a new genetic lineage to India's growing cheetah population, with the latest births taking the total number of cheetahs in the country to 60.
Yadav congratulated the veterinarians, field staff, managers and others associated with Project Cheetah, crediting their efforts for the latest development.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also welcomed the birth of the five cubs.
In a post on X, Yadav said the birth of the healthy cubs was a "proud moment" for Project Cheetah and Kuno National Park.
He said the development had taken India's cheetah population to 60, including 41 Indian-born cheetahs, and described it as a significant milestone in the country's efforts to restore its cheetah population and strengthen wildlife conservation.
The latest births add to Project Cheetah's efforts to establish a sustainable cheetah population in India following the species' reintroduction into the country.
India's cheetah population in September stood at 52. Of these, 49 were in Kuno National Park and three in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Last month, the population included 32 cheetahs born in India. Three of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in 2022 are alive, along with 22 of their India-born offspring, taking the surviving Namibian-origin group to 25.
Of the 12 cheetahs brought from South Africa in 2023, eight are alive, with 10 India-born cubs taking the surviving South African-origin group to 18. Nine cheetahs were also brought from Botswana in February 2026, further strengthening the programme's genetic base.
At Kuno, 17 cheetahs are in open forest, 10 males and seven females, while 32 remain in soft-release enclosures, including five males, eight females and 19 cubs under one year old.
