Female Cheetah ‘Veera’, Her Two Cubs to be released in wild at Kuno National Park on International Cheetah Day today.

Bhopal, December 2025: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav with release the female cheetah Veera and her two 10-month-old cubs into the wild at Kuno National Park on Thursday to mark the International Cheetah Day.

The release will be carried out in the Parond Forest area, a designated tourism zone within the Kuno National Park. Officials said the release of the cheetah family is expected to boost ecotourism and enhance public engagement with Project Cheetah, the ongoing initiative to reintroduce the species in India. Following their release, the animals will be continuously monitored using advanced radio tracking systems and dedicated field teams to ensure their safety and smooth integration into the landscape.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister will also unveil the Kuno National Park Calendar for 2026 and release the newly prepared Field Manual for Clinical Management of Free Ranging Cheetahs in Kuno National Park. Additionally, he will inaugurate the park’s newly constructed souvenir shop, aimed at enriching visitor experience and promoting conservation awareness. The event is being organised under the supervision of the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) and the Director, Lion Project, Madhya Pradesh.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the eve of International Cheetah Day  and praised wildlife lovers and conservationists for their significant contribution in protecting Cheetahs.

In a post on X, PM Modi said that the Government’s Project Cheetah aimed to revive lost ecological heritage and strengthen the country’s biodiversity.

“On International Cheetah Day, my best wishes to all wildlife lovers and conservationists dedicated to protecting the cheetah, one of our planet’s most remarkable creatures. Three years ago, our Government launched Project Cheetah with the aim of safeguarding this magnificent animal and restoring the ecosystem in which it can truly flourish. It was also an effort to revive lost ecological heritage and strengthen our biodiversity“, said PM Modi.

“India is proud to be home to several cheetahs, and a significant number of them are born on Indian soil. Many of them now thrive in the Kuno National Park and the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. It is heartening to see cheetah tourism growing in popularity as well. I encourage more wildlife enthusiasts from across the world to visit India and witness the cheetah in all its splendour“, said PM Modi.

“Our progress in cheetah conservation has been possible only through the collective support of our people, especially our dedicated Cheetah Mitras. Protecting wildlife and living in harmony with nature are integral to India’s civilisational ethos and we see that spirit alive today in these efforts“, the Prime Minister said

Cheetahs in India went extinct due to excessive, reckless hunting. Phase 1 of Project Cheetah began in 2022 to restore the cheetah population, which was declared extinct in the country in 1952. It involved the translocation of cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park.

The NTCA implemented the project in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Team Maverick