Kuno National Park: Location, District, Cheetah Population & Recent Developments

Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh has been at the centre of national attention ever since India began its ambitious mission to reintroduce cheetahs after 70 years of extinction. While the park has achieved several conservation milestones, recent incidents—such as the death of a cheetah cub on December 7, 2025—have highlighted the challenges involved in wildlife protection beyond protected areas.

The Recent Incident: Cheetah Cub Hit by Vehicle in Gwalior District

A cheetah cub died on Sunday morning (December 7, 2025) after being hit by a vehicle on the Agra–Mumbai National Highway (NH46) in Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh.

The cub was one of two 20-month-old India-born males, both offspring of the South African female cheetah Gamini. The young cheetahs had recently moved outside the boundaries of Kuno National Park. Despite being monitored by the park’s tracking team and local forest officials, one of them was fatally struck by a speeding vehicle.

This tragic death marks the second cheetah loss at Kuno within 48 hours, raising concerns about highway risks, corridor safety and wildlife movement outside protected zones.

Kuno National Park Location

Kuno National Park is located in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh, spread across the Vindhyan hills and riverine landscapes. It is known for its:

• Dry deciduous forests
• Grasslands ideal for cheetah habitat
• Rich wildlife, including leopards, wolves, deer species, hyenas and diverse birdlife

KNP’s terrain was specifically chosen for the Cheetah Reintroduction Project due to its ecosystem similarities with African savannahs.

Kuno National Park, Which District?

Kuno National Park is situated in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.

However, as seen in the recent accident, cheetahs—especially young males—often disperse beyond the park boundaries into neighbouring districts such as Gwalior and Shivpuri, highlighting the need for expanded monitoring and wildlife-safe corridors.

How Many Cheetah in Kuno National Park?

The number of cheetahs in Kuno changes due to:

• New births
• Translocations from Africa
• Occasional deaths
• Relocations due to health or territorial issues

As per the latest available data (late 2025):

• Around 26–27 cheetahs, including adults and cubs, were present in and around Kuno.
• Some cheetahs occasionally move outside the park, making monitoring challenging.

(You can update this count in future articles whenever the government releases new figures.)

Why Cheetahs Disperse Outside Kuno?

Young male cheetahs naturally explore new territories for:

• Food
• Mating opportunities
• Space from dominant males
• Natural movement patterns

However, once they leave protected zones, they face risks such as:

• Road accidents
• Conflict with humans
• Limited prey availability
• Habitat fragmentation

The recent NH46 accident underscores the urgent need to strengthen wildlife passages and community awareness.

Kuno’s Importance in Project Cheetah

Kuno National Park was selected for India’s cheetah reintroduction due to:

• Suitable grassland ecosystems
• Large core area of more than 700 sq km
• Efforts to rehabilitate villages earlier to expand habitat
• Its central location connecting multiple forest patches

The project has already achieved significant milestones, including:

• Births of India-born cheetah cubs
• Successful adaptation of several African cheetahs
• Research advances on cheetah behaviour in India

But challenges—such as territorial fights, weather stress, and dispersal risks—continue to test the project.