Kuno National Park (MP): In a setback to India’s ambitious Project Cheetah, an 8-year-old Namibian female cheetah named Nabha died today at Kuno National Park. The cheetah, translocated as part of the rewilding initiative launched in September 2022, succumbed to injuries believed to have been sustained during a hunting attempt a week ago. The death has reignited concerns over the challenges of reintroducing a species extinct in India since 1952 into its grasslands.
Circumstances of Nabha’s Death
The Kuno National Park authorities released a press note earlier today detailing the incident. Nabha, part of the initial Namibian cohort, suffered severe injuries, including a fracture in both Ulna and Fibula, likely from a hunting mishap. Despite veterinary intervention, her condition deteriorated over the week, leading to her death. The press note, issued by the Field Director of the Cheetah Project, stated:
Press Note | 12/07/2025
Nabha, an 8-year-old Namibian female cheetah, died today. She got badly injured a week back, probably during hunting, inside her Soft Release Boma. She had a fracture in both Ulna and Fibula on the left side along with other injuries. She was under treatment for a week but succumbed to her injuries. Further detail will be known after PM report is received.
Kuno now has 26 cheetahs, 9 adults (6 females and 3 males) and 17 Indian-born cubs. All are healthy and doing well. In addition, the two male cheetahs in Gandhisagar are also doing well. Out of 26 cheetahs in Kuno National Park, 16 cheetahs are in the wild and are performing very well. They have adapted well to the habitat of Kuno National Park, have learned to live with co-predators and are regularly hunting. Recently anti-ectoparasitic medication of all cheetahs has been completed. Two mothers, Veera and Nirva along with their recently born cubs are healthy and doing well.
— Field Director, Cheetah Project
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Background of Project Cheetah
Project Cheetah, spearheaded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, aims to restore ecological balance by reintroducing African cheetahs to India. The initiative began after the Supreme Court lifted a 2012 ban in 2020, following a 2009 proposal to source cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa, as Iran declined to provide its native population.
The first batch of eight cheetahs—seven males and one female—was imported from Namibia in September 2022. A second batch of 12 cheetahs was brought from South Africa in February 2023. Notably, no cheetahs have been translocated from Nigeria or other South African countries beyond South Africa itself, as the project focused on Namibia and South Africa due to their established cheetah populations and conservation expertise.
Also Read: Cheetahs’ radio collars removed for health examination at Kuno
As of July 2025, the project has seen the birth of 17 cubs, bringing the total cheetah population to 26, including those in Kuno National Park and Gandhisagar. However, the program has faced hurdles, with multiple cheetah deaths reported. Nabha’s demise is the latest in a series of losses, raising questions about habitat suitability, monitoring, and adaptation challenges. A 2023 study published in Conservation Biology on cheetah reintroduction in South Africa reported a 15% mortality rate due to injuries in the first year, a trend that appears to align with Nabha’s case.
Translocation and Survival Statistics
Cheetahs Translocated: A total of 20 cheetahs were imported—8 from Namibia in 2022 and 12 from South Africa in 2023. No cheetahs were sourced from Nigeria or other South African countries, clarifying a potential misconception.
Also Read: Namibian Cheetah strays in residential areas, officials keep watch
Survival Rate: Of the 20 translocated cheetahs, 9 adults remain as of July 2025, indicating a survival rate of 45% among the imported population. This figure accounts for the deaths of 8 adults, including Nabha, due to various causes such as injuries and health complications since the project’s inception. The 17 cubs born in India have all survived to date, contributing to the current population.
Total Strength: The total cheetah population as of now stands at 26, comprising 9 surviving adult cheetahs (6 females and 3 males) and 17 cubs, with 2 males also present in Gandhisagar, as per the latest press note.
Also Read: Cheetah reintroduction plan suffers blow as 8th big cat dies at Kuno
Expert Insights and Challenges
Wildlife experts have pointed to the complexities of rewilding. Dr. Ravi Chellam, a conservation biologist, noted, “Cheetahs are highly specialized predators, and injuries during hunts are not uncommon, especially in unfamiliar terrains. Nabha’s death underscores the need for enhanced monitoring and possibly larger enclosures during the initial adaptation phase.” A 2024 study in Frontiers in Conservation Science emphasized the importance of individual and environmental contexts in cheetah reintroduction, suggesting that India’s grassland ecosystems may require further habitat optimization.
The project has achieved short-term successes, including a 50% survival rate of translocated cheetahs and the birth of cubs, as reported by Drishti IAS in a 2023 review. However, with five adult mortalities recorded so far—Nabha being the latest—the long-term viability of the meta-population across central and western India remains under scrutiny. The Hindu reported in May 2023 that inadequate space and limited intervention opportunities have compounded these challenges.
Also Read: 2nd lot of cheetahs to arrive in India from South Africa on Feb 18
Way Forward
The NTCA and Kuno authorities are expected to conduct a post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of Nabha’s death, with results to guide future strategies. Conservationists advocate for increased funding, better veterinary support, and collaboration with Namibian and South African experts to refine the project. As India mourns Nabha’s loss, the focus shifts to ensuring the survival of the remaining 26 cheetahs and securing the legacy of Project Cheetah.
