Kuno Cheetah feeding costs spark storm in Madhya Pradesh assembly

Project Cheetah faces scrutiny after the MP government disclosed daily feeding costs of nearly Rs 35,000 for cheetahs at Kuno

PGurus Newsdesk

February 27, 2026

MP Govt Reveals Rs 1.27 Crore Goat Meat Bill

35 cheetahs currently housed at Kuno National Park

A political controversy has erupted over expenditure on feeding cheetahs at Kuno National Park, after the Madhya Pradesh government informed the Assembly that nearly Rs 35,000 is being spent daily on goat meat for the animals. The figures came to light during Question Hour when Congress MLA Mukesh Malhotra sought detailed data on food expenses under Project Cheetah.

In a written response, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that Rs 1,27,10,870 was spent on goat meat during 2024–25. Spread across 365 days, this works out to an average of about Rs 34,825 per day — roughly Rs 35,000.

The Chief Minister also acknowledged that there is no dedicated budget allocation for cheetah food. Instead, funds are drawn from other budget heads as required. The government added that there is no fixed benchmark for the number of goats provided daily, with meat supplied based on veterinary advice and monitoring assessments.

At present, Kuno is home to 35 adult, semi-adult, and India-born cheetahs. In the Assembly, Mukesh Malhotra raised several questions, including the annual food allocation, the number of goats fed per day, whether crores are being spent on goat purchases, and whether cheetahs or leopards are attacking livestock in nearby villages. He also asked whether a lack of food contributed to the death of a leopard in a road accident on December 6, 2025, and if any action had been taken against officials.

The government rejected allegations that the cheetahs were being underfed, stating that a dedicated monitoring team oversees their care round the clock.

On the December 6 incident, the reply clarified that the leopard died in a road accident and that the death was not linked to food scarcity. It acknowledged that leopards sometimes prey on cattle while moving through open forest areas near villages but said no disciplinary action had been taken against officials.

Kuno became India’s first habitat for African cheetahs on September 17, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs brought from Namibia. In February 2023, 12 more cheetahs arrived from South Africa as part of India’s ambitious reintroduction programme.

The project is now entering its next phase. On February 28, eight additional cheetahs — two males and six females — from Botswana are scheduled to be translocated to India. Meanwhile, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary has emerged as a second site for African cheetahs and currently houses a South African male coalition along with a female.

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