Which Indian State Is Called the Cheetah State?

Madhya Pradesh is famously known as the Tiger State of India because it houses the largest number of tigers in the country. But now, it is also known with a second name, i.e Cheetah State of India. Let us explore why Madhya Pradesh is called the Cheetah State of India, and also know about the efforts made to conserve the Cheetah population in India.

Why Is Madhya Pradesh Called the Cheetah State?

Madhya Pradesh earned the title "Cheetah State" because it is the only state in India where cheetahs have been successfully reintroduced. In April 2025, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav released two cheetahs named Prabash and Paavak at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur district. 

On that occasion, he declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given MP the pride of becoming both the Tiger State and the Cheetah State.

The state hosts two dedicated cheetah habitats: Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Both sites sit in central and western Madhya Pradesh. Together, they form the centre of India's national cheetah conservation effort.

What Is Project Cheetah?

Project Cheetah is an initiative taken to reintroduce cheetahs in India. As per official records, Cheetahs went extinct in India in 1952. The last known cheetahs in the country were killed in 1947 in Korea district, which is now part of the state of Chhattisgarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the project on his birthday, September 17, 2022. He personally released eight cheetahs from Namibia into Kuno National Park. In February 2023, 12 more cheetahs arrived from South Africa. That brought the original count to 20 animals.

What does the word Cheetah mean?

The word Cheetah is derived from the Sanskrit word chitraka, which means the spotted one. Ancient Indian texts like the Rigveda and Atharvaveda mention the animal. Neolithic cave paintings in central India, believed to be 10,000 to 20,000 years old, also depict cheetahs as a big cat with a small head and spotted body.

Source: Dr. Y.V. Jhala

Where Is Kuno National Park Located?

Kuno National Park is located in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh. It was selected as the primary site for Project Cheetah because experts at the Wildlife Institute of India certified it as having a good prey base. 

The park covers a forest area of about 3,200 square kilometres. Kuno was originally developed as a site for the reintroduction of Asiatic lions as well. As of April 2026, Kuno has 54 cheetahs.

Where is Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary Located?

Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is the second cheetah habitat of Madhya Pradesh. It is situated in Mandsaur and Neemuch districts, close to the border of Rajasthan. The Chambal River flows through the sanctuary and the Gandhi Sagar Dam is located inside the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is savanna-like with shallow topsoil and rocky soils. Before the introduction of cheetahs to the area, wildlife officials enclosed approximately 80 square kilometres of the area with fencing. Currently, there are 3 cheetahs in Gandhi Sagar, one of which, named Dheera, was relocated from Kuno in September 2025.

How Many Cheetahs Are in India Now?

Since 2022, the number of cheetahs in India has increased considerably. There are currently 57 cheetahs in Kuno and Gandhi Sagar. This includes 19 free ranging animals in open forest areas.

In 2024, a significant achievement was the birth of India's first cheetah born in India, a female named Mukhi, at Kuno. Mukhi herself gave birth to five cubs by late 2025, thus becoming a second generation cheetah on Indian soil.

India's First Inter-State Cheetah Corridor

The government approved India's first inter-state cheetah conservation corridor to enable the cheetahs to move around in a large space. This is a corridor connecting Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. The goal is to provide cheetahs with larger space and to avoid territorial disputes among cheetahs within each reserve.

When did cheetahs become extinct in India?

Cheetahs were officially declared extinct in India in 1952. The last three cheetahs in the country were killed in 1947 in Korea district (now in Chhattisgarh). They were hunted and poached to extinction and their habitats were destroyed.

Where were the first reintroduced cheetahs released in India?

The first reintroduced cheetahs were released at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs from Namibia there on September 17, 2022.

Is Madhya Pradesh also called the Tiger State?

Yes. Madhya Pradesh is also called Tiger State as well as Cheetah State. The state is home to the maximum number of tigers in India (approx. 785) and now leads the country's cheetah reintroduction programme.

Quick Facts for Competitive Exams

Practice MCQs for Competitive Exams

Q1. Which Indian state is officially known as the "Cheetah State"? 

A) Rajasthan B) Gujarat C) Madhya Pradesh D) Chhattisgarh

Answer: C) Madhya Pradesh 

Explanation: Madhya Pradesh earned the title of Cheetah State because as it leads the charge in reintroduction of Cheetah’s at Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. Also the CM of Madhya Pradesh Dr. Mohan Yadav officially used the term in April 2025.

Q2. In which year were cheetahs officially declared extinct in India? 

A) 1947 B) 1952 C) 1960 D) 1975

Answer: B) 1952 

Explanation: Cheetah was officially declared extinct in the year 1952. The 3 remaining Cheetahs were killed in 1947 in Korea district which is a part of the Chattisgarh state.

Check out some more interesting articles from the general knowledge section to boost your knowledge of national and international topics. Stay connected with Jagran Josh for more topics like this.