Five cheetahs, including a Namibian female named Jwala and her four cubs, were set free into the wilds of Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on Friday, a milestone in India’s ambitious effort to resurrect its long-lost population of the world’s fastest land animal. The release, announced by park officials, brings the total number of cheetahs roaming freely in the reserve to 12, while 14 others remain in enclosures.

The move follows a phased release of seven other cheetahs—two males, two females, and four cubs—earlier this month and in December, signaling steady progress in a project that began with fanfare in September 2022. Back then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally oversaw the introduction of eight cheetahs from Namibia into Kuno, marking the launch of an unprecedented intercontinental translocation of the species. Five months later, in February 2023, 12 more arrived from South Africa.

Kuno National Park, nestled in the Sheopur district, now hosts 26 cheetahs: eight from South Africa, four from Namibia, and 14 cubs born on Indian soil. The initiative, a blend of conservation and national pride, aims to restore an apex predator extinct in India since the 1940s. Jwala’s release with her cubs underscores the program’s success in breeding and acclimatizing the animals, though challenges persist in ensuring their survival beyond fenced confines.