How India’s Last Asiatic Cheetahs Were Used For Hunting By the British, the Mughals and the Rajputs

For centuries, Asiatic Cheetahs held a unique position in Indian royal courts, serving not just as symbols of prestige but as highly prized hunting companions. The use of cheetahs for hunting reached its zenith during the Mughal era, particularly under the reign of Emperor Akbar (1556-1605). Akbar's fascination with cheetahs began early; at the age of 13 in 1555 AD, he was introduced to hunting with these swift predators. This royal interest in cheetah hunting, or "cheetah coursing," soon became a defining feature of Mughal court life.

Cheetahs tied to a leash much like dogs (Source: National Geographic Archives)

Abul Fazl's "Ain-i-Akbari," a detailed account of Akbar's administration, provides valuable insights into the scale of cheetah use in the Mughal court. According to this source, Akbar's royal menagerie housed an astonishing 9,000 cheetahs. These animals were primarily used to hunt blackbuck, antelopes, and gazelles, showcasing both the cheetah's natural hunting prowess and the grandeur of royal hunts.

The process of training cheetahs for hunting was relatively straightforward, typically taking three to four months. Once trained, cheetahs were kept on leashes, much like domesticated dogs, ready to be deployed for royal hunts.

Cheetahs as domesticated dogs (Source: i.pinimg.com)

Emperor Jahangir, Akbar's son and successor, continued the tradition of cheetah coursing. Historical records indicate that Jahangir once used cheetahs to capture over 400 antelopes near present-day New Delhi. Notably, it was during Jahangir's reign that the first successful captive breeding of cheetahs was recorded in the 16th century.

The British, upon their arrival in India, quickly adopted the practice of hunting with cheetahs. They saw it not only as a sport but also as a means to ingratiate themselves with Indian royalty. Several British accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries describe cheetah hunts in vivid detail, highlighting the continued popularity of this practice.

Cheetah being held with a collar and body strap by a man. Photographed during Prince of Wales India, 1875 (Source: royalcollection.org.uk)

The Rajputs, known for their martial traditions, also embraced cheetah hunting. Many Rajput palaces and forts feature depictions of cheetah hunts in their artwork, underscoring the cultural significance of this practice for “Them”.

A painting inspired by an incident that took place in 1764, when a cheetah brought to England from India was pitched against a stag in a hunting demonstration at Windsor. (Source: Manchester Art Gallery)

The use of cheetahs in hunting contributed significantly to their decline in India. Several factors played a role in their eventual extinction:

1. Overhunting: The capture of wild cheetahs for training depleted their natural populations. With an estimated 10,000 Asiatic cheetahs in India during the 16th century, the constant demand for new hunting animals took a severe toll on wild populations.

2. Habitat Loss: The expansion of human settlements and agriculture led to a significant reduction in the cheetah's natural habitat and prey base.

3. Limited Captive Breeding: Unlike other big cats, cheetahs have always been notoriously difficult to breed in captivity. This limitation meant that the number of captive cheetahs could not be sustainably increased to meet the demand for hunting animals.

4. Colonial Hunting Practices: The advent of firearms during the British colonial period led to more efficient and widespread hunting of both cheetahs and their prey species.

5. Conflict with Human Interests: As natural habitats shrank, cheetahs increasingly came into conflict with human settlements and livestock, leading to retaliatory killings.

The last confirmed sighting of an Asiatic cheetah in India was in 1947, the year of India's independence. Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Korea, Madhya Pradesh is believed to have killed the last three cheetahs in the country. This marked the functional extinction of cheetahs in the country, bringing an end to centuries of their presence in Indian ecosystems and culture.

Three of the last Asiatic cheetahs recorded from India were shot down in 1947, by Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Korea, as seen in this photo submitted by his private secretary to JBNHS.

The story of cheetahs in India is a complex tale of royal fascination, cultural practices, and ultimately, ecological loss. From being revered hunting companions in Mughal courts to their complete disappearance from Indian wilderness, the cheetah's journey reflects the broader challenges of wildlife conservation in the face of human expansion and exploitation. As India now embarks on ambitious reintroduction programs, the history of cheetahs in the subcontinent serves as both a cautionary tale and a reminder of the need for sustainable wildlife management.

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