'Farcical to hail cheetah births as Project Cheetah success': Expert
Wildlife biologist Ravi Chellam said it was farcical to hail recent cheetah births as a sign of Project Cheetah's success, arguing that India's big cheetah comeback is missing the mark.
He points out Kuno National Park can only handle about 10 adult cheetahs, but numbers keep rising with new cubs, despite limited space and not enough prey.
Chellam also questions why India keeps importing wild cheetahs from Botswana, where their own numbers are dropping.
Chellam's criticism on cubs' survival
Chellam's criticism comes after recent cub births in India, which some are celebrating, even though the official plan never included captive breeding.
He worries these cubs won't survive in the wild because there just isn't enough food or room for them.
He said Kuno's carrying capacity is at best about 10 adult cheetahs.
Despite concerns, numbers keep rising
Despite concerns, Project Cheetah has made headlines with its growing numbers: India has reported new cheetahs as of March 2026, including the birth of five cubs on March 9, 2026 (Jwala) and four cubs in early March 2026 (Gamini) — nine recent cubs in early March 2026 — and recent arrivals from Botswana (nine cheetahs have already arrived).
Still, experts like Chellam say real success depends on fixing habitats first.
Who is Ravi Chellam?
Ravi Chellam is a wildlife biologist and CEO of Metastring Foundation.
He has criticized Project Cheetah's emphasis on imports rather than habitat restoration.