In a momentous development for wildlife conservation efforts in India, a five-year-old cheetah from South Africa has given birth to five cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav announced the joyful news, highlighting the success of the ambitious reintroduction project.
With the recent addition of five cubs, the tally of Indian-born cheetahs has risen to 13, while the total number of cheetahs, including the newborns, now stands at 26 within the Kuno park. Minister Yadav expressed his delight on social media, commending the forest officers, veterinarians, and field staff for creating a conducive environment for the cheetahs, facilitating successful mating and breeding.
The birth of these cubs marks a significant milestone, as it represents the fourth cheetah litter on Indian soil and the first litter from cheetahs brought from South Africa. Minister Yadav congratulated the entire team involved in the conservation efforts and highlighted the legacy of female cheetah Gamini, who has now become a proud mother.
This recent birth follows the delivery of four cubs by Namibian cheetah Jwala on January 20, and three cubs by another Namibian cheetah named Aasha earlier that month. While January witnessed the joy of seven new cubs, it also mourned the loss of an adult Namibian cheetah named Shaurya on January 16.
The reintroduction of cheetahs in India has been a concerted effort to revive their population, as they were declared extinct in the country in 1952. The project gained momentum in 2022 with the introduction of eight cheetahs from Namibia, followed by the translocation of 12 cheetahs from South Africa to the Kuno National Park in February 2023.
Sources By Agencies
