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Namibian Cheetah Aasha Delivers 5 Cubs at Kuno, Boosting India's Population to 35

Namibian cheetah Aasha has given birth to five healthy cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, marking her second litter in two years. This brings the number of Indian-born cheetah cubs to 24 and the total population under Project Cheetah to 35. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav hailed the event as a historic milestone for wildlife conservation in India. The success comes just weeks before the scheduled arrival of eight more cheetahs from Botswana later this month.

Key Points: Cheetah Aasha Gives Birth to 5 Cubs at Kuno, India's Count Now 35

  • Second litter for cheetah Aasha in two years
  • Total Indian cheetah population now reaches 35
  • Eighth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil
  • Third batch of cheetahs from Botswana due Feb 28
2 min read

Namibian cheetah Aasha gives birth to five cubs at Kuno, India count rises to 35

Namibian cheetah Aasha births five cubs at Kuno National Park, raising India's total cheetah population to 35 and marking a major Project Cheetah success.

"Aasha's legacy leaps forward -- India welcomes her five adorable cubs. - Bhupendra Yadav"

Sheopur, Feb 7

In a major boost to Project Cheetah, Namibian female cheetah Aasha gave birth to five healthy cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district.

This marks the second time in two years that Aasha has littered cubs, underscoring the success of India's cheetah reintroduction programme.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav shared the development on the social media platform X, calling it a moment of pride for the state and the country.

"With this birth, the number of Indian-born cubs rises to 24, and the total cheetah population reaches 35. This achievement reflects the tireless dedication of our forest staff and veterinarians. Madhya Pradesh is emerging as an epicentre of wildlife conservation," he wrote.

Aasha was part of the first batch of cheetahs brought from Namibia in September 2022. Earlier, she had given birth to three cubs on January 3, 2024.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav also hailed the development, terming it a "moment of immense pride and joy for Project Cheetah."

"Aasha's legacy leaps forward -- India welcomes her five adorable cubs," he said in a post on X.

The minister added that the birth marks the eighth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil, describing it as a significant milestone in India's conservation journey.

He credited the achievement to the dedication and expertise of field staff and veterinarians working on the ground.

"May Aasha and her cubs thrive and sprint India's cheetah story to even greater success. A truly historic and heart-warming moment for wildlife conservation," he said.

The development comes just weeks ahead of the arrival of the third batch of cheetahs, with eight cheetahs from Botswana scheduled to reach Madhya Pradesh on February 28.

Under Project Cheetah, eight cheetahs from Namibia were released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kuno on September 17, 2022, followed by the translocation of 12 cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Five cubs! That's fantastic. It shows the cheetahs are adapting well to their new home. MP is indeed becoming a wildlife haven. Hope the new batch from Botswana next month also settles in smoothly.
A
Aman W
While this is a positive development, we must also be cautious. The initial mortality rate was concerning. I hope the forest department has robust monitoring and healthcare plans in place for these newborns. Conservation is a marathon, not a sprint.
S
Sarah B
As someone who follows global conservation efforts, this is a significant milestone. Reintroducing a top predator is incredibly complex. India's commitment to bringing back the cheetah is commendable. Wishing the cubs a long and healthy life!
V
Vikram M
Bahut badhiya! Aasha is doing India proud. From 8 to 35 in less than two years is no small feat. This project brings a lot of positive attention to our biodiversity. Jai Hind!
N
Nisha Z
Heartwarming news to start the day. 😊 I hope they release more photos or a short video of the cubs soon. It's important for the public to connect with these animals to build lasting support for conservation.

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