Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Unrelated Male Cheetahs Form Rare Coalition at Kuno
Two young male cheetahs at Kuno National Park have become close partners.
Usually, male cheetahs that form coalitions are brothers.
These two are not related and came from different places.
KNG23 was born in India, while CCB4 arrived from Botswana.
They started by sharing food without fighting.
Later, they began walking, hunting, calling, and grooming each other.
Park officials now believe they are acting as a team.
The pair has not yet faced major predators or the challenges of living freely in the wild.
Officials will watch whether they remain together as they grow older.
KNG23, born in India, and CCB4, brought from Botswana, have formed an unusual coalition at Kuno National Park.
The unrelated males are six to seven months apart in age and began bonding after being housed near each other.
They have been seen moving, hunting, grooming and sharing kills together without aggression.
Officials say the coalition may help the cheetahs defend territory, hunt and confront rivals more effectively.
Kuno’s population is 52 cheetahs, including 32 born in India, but KNG23 and CCB4 have not yet been released into the wild together.
- Who
- KNG23 and CCB4, two unrelated male cheetahs, along with Kuno National Park wildlife officials.
- What
- The two cheetahs have formed a rare male coalition and are beginning to establish territory-related behavior.
- When
- The coalition developed after CCB4 arrived on February 28 and after KNG23 was separated from its family following injuries; the project is in its fourth year.
- Where
- Kuno National Park in India; CCB4 came from Botswana.
- Why
- The cheetahs began staying together after being housed near each other, and the coalition may provide advantages in hunting, protection and confronting rivals.
- Animals involved
- KNG23 and CCB4
- Relationship
- Unrelated male cheetahs, approximately six to seven months apart in age
- KNG23
- Born in March this year to Nirva in India
- CCB4
- Arrived from Botswana on February 28 this year
- Current population
- 52 cheetahs in the project: 49 at Kuno and three at Gandhi Sagar
- India-born cheetahs
- 32
- Wild population at Kuno
- 17 of Kuno’s 49 cheetahs are currently living in the wild