Two male cheetahs, Agni and Vayu, have been successfully released into the tourist zone of the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh of India, marking a significant step in the Cheetah Reintroduction Project.

The official release, announced by the chief conservator of forest (tiger project), positions the Parond forest range within the Ahera tourism zone as a prime spot for tourists to catch a glimpse of these magnificent animals.

The journey toward reintroducing cheetahs hasn’t been without challenges. Since August, fifteen cheetahs, including seven males, seven females, and a cub, were kept in enclosures in KNP, with veterinarians closely monitoring their health. However, the project faced setbacks as six adult cheetahs succumbed to various reasons since March, resulting in a total death count of nine felines, including three cubs.

The project’s earlier milestones included the introduction of eight Namibian cheetahs (five females and three males) into enclosures on September 17, 2022. In February, an additional 12 cheetahs arrived from South Africa.

The breeding efforts saw four cubs born to a Namibian cheetah named Jwala, but unfortunately, three of them passed away in May.

Despite these challenges, the recent release of Agni and Vayu into the KNP brings hope for the successful reintroduction of cheetahs into the wild. Tourists now have the opportunity to witness these iconic creatures, albeit amidst the ongoing efforts and setbacks faced by the Cheetah Reintroduction Project.