India’s First Homegrown Cheetah ‘Mukhi’ Turns Three

Born in May 2023 at Kuno National Park to South African cheetah Jwala and Namibian cheetah Freddie, Mukhi survived early setbacks to grow into adulthood and later gave birth to five cubs.

Mukhi was the lone survivor of Jwala’s first litter after her three siblings died due to dehydration. She was abandoned by her mother and rescued by forest officials on May 23, 2023, in a critical condition with dehydration and malnutrition.

She was treated in an intensive care facility at the park and reared by veterinarians and forest staff until recovery. An attempt to reunite her with her mother was unsuccessful, with Jwala reportedly attacking her.

Mukhi later learnt to hunt independently in the wild despite injuries during her early growth phase. “Mukhi had faced every challenge an orphaned newborn could possibly face. She is a symbol of courage and hope for all of us here- a true fighter,” said field director Uttam Kumar Sharma.

She was subsequently released into the wild and gave birth to five cubs on November 20, 2025, becoming the only India-born female cheetah among five breeding females in the park.

Under the reintroduction project, eight cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa were relocated to Kuno around four years ago. The country now has a cheetah population of 53, including 33 cubs. Three cheetahs have also been shifted to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952.