Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on X that the India‑born female cheetah KGP12 had given birth to four cubs at Kuno National Park on September 18 2026, the day after the re‑introduction programme completed four years.
Yadav called the moment "a truly historic and joyous moment for Project Cheetah," adding that the birth of the cubs "reflects the growing success of cheetah conservation in India." He further tweeted, "Four years, four new lives, a beautiful symbol of hope, resilience and the growing success of cheetah conservation in India. Heartiest congratulations to the entire Kuno and Project Cheetah family."
The Project Cheetah initiative was launched on September 17, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight wild cheetahs from Namibia into special enclosures at the park in Sheopur district, marking the beginning of the animal's re‑introduction programme.
The cheetah, once declared extinct in India in 1952, has now returned to the wild under the stewardship of the project, and the birth of the cubs demonstrates the viability of the re‑introduction strategy.
With the successful birth of four cubs, Project Cheetah will continue to monitor the young animals and assess the long‑term sustainability of the re‑introduction programme.