Total cheetah population in India reaches 53 after five cubs born at Kuno National Park
New Delhi, March 9
Jwala, the Namibian Cheetah, gave birth to five cubs on Monday at the Kuno National Park, in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district, taking India's Cheetah population to 53, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said.
Of these, 50 are now in Kuno National Park, and three are in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
In an X post, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said the number of Indian-born thriving cubs has risen to 33, and lauded the veterinarians and field staff taking care of the big cats at the Kuno National Park.
He wrote, "Cheetahs cross half-century. A moment of great pride for Project Cheetah as Jwala, the Namibian Cheetah and a successful third-time mother, gave birth to five cubs today at the Kuno National Park. With this birth, the number of Indian-born thriving cubs has risen to 33, marking the 10th successful cheetah litter on Indian soil--another important milestone in India's cheetah conservation journey."
"This achievement reflects the dedicated efforts, skill, and commitment of the veterinarians, field staff and all involved who continue to work tirelessly on the ground. With the arrival of these cubs, the total cheetah population in India has now reached 53. A historic and heart-warming moment for wildlife conservation. May Jwala and her cubs grow strong and race ahead, carrying India's cheetah story to even greater heights," the X post read.
Earlier, on February 28, another milestone for India's ambitious cheetah reintroduction project was achieved as nine cheetahs from Botswana were released at Kuno National Park.
Union Bhupender Yadav was present at the park during the release, along with senior forest officials and other authorities.
IN February, with the arrival of these nine cheetahs from Botswana, the population of cheetahs in India was 48, including 28 India-born cubs.
'Project Cheetah' is India's world-first intercontinental translocation project, launched on September 17, 2022. The project aimed to reintroduce the cheetah to India, which went extinct in the country in 1952.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Heartwarming achievement! But we must also ensure the long-term success. The focus should now shift to habitat expansion and managing human-wildlife conflict. Kuno can't hold all of them forever. Gandhi Sagar is a good start.
Five cubs in one litter! That's incredible. The veterinarians and field staff deserve a standing ovation. This project is putting India on the global map for conservation. Hope to see a cheetah in the wild one day.
As someone who has followed Project Cheetah from the start, this is a major milestone. The initial deaths were worrying, but the team has learned and adapted. 33 Indian-born cubs is a fantastic number. Well done!
Bahut badhiya! This is real development. While we build roads and metros, bringing back an extinct species shows our commitment to our natural heritage. May the cubs grow strong and healthy. 🙏
A moment of pride, yes. But let's be honest, the project cost is enormous. I hope the benefits to local ecosystems and tourism justify the investment. The real test will be a self-sustaining wild population.
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