Namibian cheetahs spark tourism boom at India’s Kuno National Park

The arrival of Namibian cheetahs in India has boosted tourism, with visitor numbers rising by 19% at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP) in 2024/2025 compared to the previous year.According to media reports from India, the park recorded 3 833 tourists in 2024/2025, up from 3 221 in 2023/2024, reflecting growing global interest in the ambitious cheetah reintroduction project.Much of this surge is attributed to the historic translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022. The move marked the species’ return to India after being declared extinct in the country more than seven decades ago. Conservationists hailed the event as a milestone, not only for India’s wildlife heritage but also for international cooperation in biodiversity preservation.Between September 2022 and February 2023, India received a total of 20 African cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa.Today, Kuno is home to 10 adult cheetahs and 19 cubs born on Indian soil. Their successful breeding has strengthened hopes that the project will secure a stable cheetah population in the subcontinent.New home Kuno park officials said the presence of these cheetahs has transformed the park into a “global conservation showcase”.Tourists, researchers and wildlife enthusiasts from across India and abroad are now flocking to the reserve to witness the cheetahs in their new habitat. This has provided a significant boost to the local economy, with hotels, guides and tourism operators benefiting from the increased footfall, according to media reports.Kuno remains open to visitors from October to June, closing only during the monsoon season from July through September.Media outlets in India have reported that bookings for the 2025/2026 tourist season are already on the rise, fuelled by the fascination of seeing cheetahs roaming free in India once again.Critics However, the cheetah project has not been without controversy. Several conservationists have criticised the initiative, arguing that Kuno lacks the vast open savannahs that cheetahs need to thrive. Others have expressed concern over the mortality rate, as several translocated cheetahs and cubs have died since their release.

Namibian cheetahs spark tourism boom at India’s Kuno National Park

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-28

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Namibian cheetahs spark tourism boom at India’s Kuno National Park

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-28

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