International cheetah day: PM Modi invites wildlife lovers to India

PM Modi says Project Cheetah restores India’s lost ecological legacy and boosts biodiversity, as tourism gains pace and population reaches 32 with India-born cubs

PGurus Newsdesk

December 4, 2025

PM Modi says project cheetah restores ecological heritage as India-born cub count rises

PM Modi invites wildlife enthusiasts to India on international cheetah day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described Project Cheetah as a mission to restore India’s lost ecological heritage and invited wildlife enthusiasts from around the world to visit the country and witness the big cat in its natural glory.

Marking International Cheetah Day, the Prime Minister shared a message on X, extending greetings to “wildlife lovers and conservationists committed to protecting the cheetah.” He noted that the government launched Project Cheetah three years ago to protect the species and rebuild an ecosystem where it could flourish. “It was also an effort to reclaim our ecological legacy and enhance our biodiversity,” he said.

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… pic.twitter.com/FJgfJqoGeA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025

Modi highlighted India’s pride in hosting a growing cheetah population, with a considerable number of the cats being born within the country. He said many cheetahs are now thriving in protected reserves, including Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. He also expressed delight over the rising interest in cheetah-based tourism, describing its growth as an encouraging sign.

The Prime Minister credited the success of the conservation project to public participation, especially the efforts of the Cheetah Mitras – citizen volunteers supporting the initiative. “Coexisting with nature and protecting wildlife form a core part of India’s civilisational values, and that spirit is visible in this mission,” he added.

Officials said India’s cheetah reintroduction drive has reached a critical turning point, showing measurable progress in population increase, habitat range, and cross-border cooperation with global conservation partners. A total of 20 cheetahs were reintroduced into Project Cheetah sites at Kuno – eight brought from Namibia in September 2022, and 12 from South Africa in February 2023.

While the programme initially faced skepticism, authorities said the outcomes have countered early concerns. As of December 2025, the country maintains a robust population of 32 cheetahs, including 21 cubs born in India. The latest milestone came in November 2025, when Mukhi, an India-born female cheetah, delivered five healthy cubs, officials confirmed.

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