‘India is proud to be home to several cheetahs’: PM Modi recalls efforts to revive lost ecological heritage
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used International Cheetah Day to spotlight India’s growing success in wildlife protection and the wider push to safeguard the nation’s ecological legacy. He praised local communities for their pivotal role in driving these conservation efforts forward.
International Cheetah Day, celebrated each year on December 4, is a global platform that raises awareness about the difficulties cheetahs face as the fastest land mammals and shines a spotlight on worldwide initiatives that aim to keep them alive. The observance is meant to educate people on the threats confronting this iconic species and the urgent need for long‑term environmental stewardship.
When sharing a message on X, the Prime Minister wrote:
“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.”
He recalled that the government launched Project Cheetah three years ago with a clear goal of securing this magnificent animal and restoring the ecosystem necessary for its future survival. Modi described the project as a key step in reviving lost ecological heritage and strengthening our biodiversity.
Today, India takes pride in hosting several cheetahs, many of which were born here. The animals are thriving in habitats such as Kuno National Park and the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, and he noted that the growing popularity of cheetah tourism is a welcome sign.
“Many of them now thrive in the Kuno National Park and the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. It is heartening to see cheetah tourism growing in popularity as well. I encourage more wildlife enthusiasts from across the world to visit India and witness the cheetah in all its splendour,” he added.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that these conservation advances would not have been possible without the active participation of ordinary citizens.
“Our progress in cheetah conservation has been possible only through the collective support of our people, especially our dedicated Cheetah Mitras. Protecting wildlife and living in harmony with nature are integral to India’s civilisational ethos, and we see that spirit alive today in these efforts,” he said.
Modi played a pivotal role in relaunching cheetah conservation under Project Cheetah, an intercontinental initiative that reintroduced the species to India after they were declared extinct there in 1952. The project began on 17 September 2022, when eight cheetahs from Namibia were released into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, marking the return of the long‑missing predator to the country’s ecosystem.
International Cheetah Day was established by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), a leading organization working to protect cheetahs worldwide. The day honors the life of Khayam, a cub raised by CCF founder Dr Laurie Marker, whose story helped galvanize global attention to the urgent need for cheetah conservation amidst rapidly shrinking populations.
Once widespread across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, cheetahs now face severe threats from habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, and human‑wildlife conflict. Fewer than 7,000 individuals remain in the wild, and subspecies such as the Asiatic cheetah are classified as critically endangered, underscoring the importance of sustained and coordinated conservation efforts both within India and internationally.
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