MP: President Murmu Interacts with Cheeta Mitras at Kuno; takes a tour of Cheetah Management Area
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday interacted with Cheeta Mitras during her two-day visit to Kuno National Park and reviewed the ongoing efforts being made for cheetah conservation.
During the interaction, President Murmu sought information from the Cheeta Mitras about conservation initiatives and awareness activities being undertaken to educate local communities about cheetah behaviour. She held one-on-one discussions with volunteers and appreciated their dedicated voluntary contribution to the project.
Cheeta Mitras informed the President that volunteers are present in all villages adjoining Kuno National Park and are actively engaged in spreading awareness among residents about cheetah conservation. Villagers are being informed about the measures to be taken if cheetahs move into inhabited areas. They are also being educated that cheetahs generally do not harm humans by nature.
Cheetah Mitras said residents are advised to immediately inform the Forest Department if a cheetah is spotted in a village or agricultural field so that the animal remains safe and unharmed. The volunteers highlighted that the cheetah reintroduction project is of immense importance for restoration of the species in India.
Those present during the interaction included Cheeta Mitra Kuldeep Adivasi of Silori, Sangram Adivasi and Rajnandani Adivasi of Hathedi, Malha Adivasi of Sesaipura, Shivam Adivasi of Palpur, Vinod Adivasi of Paira, Ramlakhan Adivasi of Karahal, Lalaram Adivasi and Daulataram Adivasi of Sesaipura, and Satish Adivasi of Moravan.
Murmu takes a tour of Cheetah Management Area
Earlier, Murmu took a tour of the Cheetah Management Area of the National Park and was briefed by the Divisional Forest Officer about the Project Cheetah.
During her state visit to Botswana in November 2025, the President had witnessed the symbolic donation of eight cheetahs by Botswana, which came to Kuno in February 2026.
The Project Cheetah, launched on September 17, 2022, under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and spearheaded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, embodies India's steadfast commitment to biodiversity restoration. This project aims to reintroduce the cheetah in India after its extinction in the country.
Under Project Cheetah, the Kuno National Park has been developed as India’s first cheetah reintroduction site as it offers ideal habitat, abundant prey, and minimal human disturbance. In the Kuno National Park, the first batch of Cheetah arrived in September 2022 from Namibia, the second batch arrived in February 2023 from South Africa, and the third batch arrived in February 2026 from Botswana.
Following the interaction with Cheeta Mitras, President Murmu departed for Gwalior by helicopter. At the helipad, she was accorded a respectful send-off by Governor Mangubhai Patel, Minister-in-Waiting and district in-charge minister Rakesh Shukla, Member of Parliament Shivmangal Singh Tomar, along with public representatives and senior officials.