Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh has welcomed four new cheetah cubs after KGP12, an India-born female cheetah, gave birth to four cubs. The birth came just a day after Project Cheetah completed four years on September 17, 2026, marking another important development in India’s cheetah conservation programme. KGP12 is the daughter of South African-born cheetah Gamini and is herself among the cheetahs born in India.
The development was announced by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, who described the birth as a historic and joyful moment for Project Cheetah. He highlighted the arrival of the four cubs as a symbol of hope, resilience and the progress of cheetah conservation in India.
Four Cheetah Cubs Born at Kuno National Park
KGP12 gave birth to the four cubs at Kuno National Park. She was born in India to Gamini, a cheetah brought to the country from South Africa. The latest birth is particularly significant because KGP12 has now produced her second litter of four cubs, making her the first India-born cheetah reported to give birth to four cubs twice.
Her first litter was born earlier in 2026. The latest birth adds another generation to the cheetah population being established in India through Project Cheetah.
India’s Cheetah Population Rises to 56
With the arrival of the four new cubs, India’s total cheetah population has risen to 56, including 36 cheetahs born in India. Of these, 53 are currently in Kuno National Park, while three are at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
The increase comes as the conservation programme continues to focus on breeding, survival and the establishment of a sustainable cheetah population in India.
KGP12 Marks a New Generation of Cheetahs Born in India
The birth of KGP12’s cubs represents another generation of cheetahs born from an India-born mother. KGP12 was born at Kuno after her mother Gamini was brought to India from South Africa. The new cubs therefore represent the continuing development of an India-born cheetah population under the reintroduction programme.
The successful breeding of India-born cheetahs is an important part of Project Cheetah’s long-term objective of establishing a viable population that can survive and reproduce in suitable Indian habitats.