Nature Connected, Wildlife Protected

Nature Connected, Wildlife Protected

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project cheetah

Restoring a Lost Legacy in India

Once roaming freely across the Indian subcontinent, the Asiatic cheetah was declared extinct in India by 1952, following decades of hunting and habitat loss. Project Cheetah, led by the Indian government, aims to reverse that loss by reintroducing African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) into their historical range—marking the first intercontinental large carnivore translocation in history.

At the heart of this pioneering project is a mission to restore India’s ecological heritage and contribute to the global conservation of this vulnerable species.

Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was chosen as the release site for its suitable habitat and potential to support a self-sustaining cheetah population. The park is now at the center of this global conservation milestone.

TMI’s Role in the Reintroduction

As a trusted service provider to the South African government, The Metapopulation Initiative (TMI) played a crucial role in this historic effort by assisting in the sourcing of cheetahs for translocation to India. Leveraging years of expertise in managing fragmented cheetah populations across southern Africa, TMI ensured that genetically suitable individuals were selected to support the long-term viability of the new population.
At the heart of this pioneering project is a mission to restore India’s ecological heritage and contribute to the global conservation of this vulnerable species.

Translocation Milestones

The first batch of cheetahs arrived in India from Namibia in September 2022, followed by a second group from South Africa in February 2023, as part of the official agreement between the South African and Indian governments.
At the heart of this pioneering project is a mission to restore India’s ecological heritage and contribute to the global conservation of this vulnerable species.

project goals

Project Cheetah has ambitious and far-reaching aims:

  • Re-establish a viable, free-ranging cheetah population in India
  • Restore the cheetah’s ecological role as a top predator
  • Support global cheetah conservation through range expansion
  • Revive grassland ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Generate socio-economic benefits through ecotourism and community development

Ongoing Monitoring & Community Engagement

To ensure long-term success, the project includes:

  • Intensive post-release monitoring and adaptive management
  • Habitat protection and prey base assessment
  • Education and engagement with local communities to foster coexistence


Project Cheetah represents a bold step forward in global conservation—and The Metapopulation Initiative is proud to contribute to this historic restoration of a species once lost to the Indian landscape.

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