First Indian-Born Cheetah Mukhi Welcomes Five Cubs at Kuno National Park

Mukhi, India’s first cheetah born in the wild at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, has given birth to five healthy cubs. This marks a major success for Project Cheetah

admin

Nov 21, 2025 - 11:45

0 1

First Indian-Born Cheetah Mukhi Welcomes Five Cubs at Kuno National Park

Bhopal, November 21, 2025 – India’s first Indian-born cheetah, Mukhi, has given birth to five healthy cubs at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, marking a historic milestone in Project Cheetah, the nation’s ongoing cheetah reintroduction program.

Mukhi, who is 33 months old, was the lone surviving cub of Namibian cheetah Siyaya, born in March 2023. Abandoned by her mother at birth, Mukhi was raised by veterinarians and staff at KNP, nurturing her into a healthy adult capable of reproducing in the wild.

Union Environment Minister shared the news on X, saying, “This is the first time in recent history that an Indian-born cheetah has reproduced, making it a landmark achievement for Project Cheetah. Both mother and cubs are doing well. This is an unprecedented breakthrough for India’s cheetah reintroduction initiative.”

Interestingly, both Mukhi and her Namibian mother Siyaya became mothers at nearly the same age, highlighting the success of the careful reintroduction and breeding program at the Sheopur district park.

This development comes as KNP prepares to welcome eight more cheetahs from Botswana, further strengthening the genetic diversity and sustainability of India’s cheetah population. Wildlife experts believe that the success of Mukhi and her cubs will provide vital momentum for future cheetah conservation efforts in the country.

With this birth, India moves a step closer to restoring the cheetah population in its natural habitat, decades after the species became extinct in the country.