{
  "id": 8184221,
  "title": "As Project Cheetah completes 4 years, big cat population in India rises to 52",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/as-project-cheetah-completes-4-years-big-cat-population-in-india",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-18T05:52:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/madhya-pradesh/as-project-cheetah-completes-4-years-big-cat-population-in-india-rises-to-52/article71479480.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India's cheetah population has grown to 52, with 32 cubs born in the country, as Project Cheetah reaches its four-year milestone on September 17, 2026. Officials emphasize the survival of cubs, successful breeding, and the expansion of cheetahs into open forest areas as key achievements. On September 17, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced eight cheetahs from Namibia into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The project now aims to create a robust, long-term cheetah metapopulation in India. Of the 49 cheetahs in Kuno, 32 were born in India, and 49 are in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, both in Madhya Pradesh. Over the past four years, the team has faced challenges, gained experience, and learned to adapt to Indian conditions to ensure the survival and development of cheetahs.",
  "summary": "The next phase of the cheetah restoration programme involves expanding suitable habitat for cheetahs and establishing a comprehensive, long term cheetah meta population in India.",
  "key_points": [
    "India's cheetah population reaches 52, with 32 cubs born in the country",
    "Project Cheetah marks four-year milestone on September 17, 2026",
    "Cheetahs introduced to Kuno National Park in 2022, now expanding into open forests"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The growth of India's cheetah population to 52, with 32 locally born cubs, marks a significant milestone for Project Cheetah, indicating progress toward establishing a sustainable, long-term cheetah metapopulation in the country.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "As Project Cheetah completes 4 years, big cat population in India rises to 52",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/as-project-cheetah-completes-4-years-big-cat-population-in-india-8189089",
        "published": "2026-09-18T05:52:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}