BHOPAL, Apr 11: In yet another historic feat in ‘Project Cheetah’, a 25-month-old Indian-born cheetah has given birth to four cubs for the first time in the wild at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
With this litter, the total number of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh, and India, has gone up to 57.
The female cheetah is the offspring of South African Cheetah Gamini.
As per officials, this is the first recorded birth in the wild in Kuno National Park where the ‘Project Cheetah’ was launched in September 2022 with the aim of the world’s fastest animal’s inter-continental reintroduction into India.
“A historic moment unfolds at Kuno National Park as an Indian-born offspring of Gamini, aged 25 months, has given birth to four cubs in the wild-marking a major milestone in India’s cheetah conservation journey,” elated union Environment and Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav wrote on X.
“Having been in the wild for over a year, this is the first recorded birth in the wild since the reintroduction began in 2022, and notably, the first such instance involving an Indian-born female.” Yadav further wrote,
“This is a significant step toward achieving the core objectives of the project-survival and breeding under natural conditions”, he said.
“This achievement reflects the growing adaptation of cheetahs to Indian conditions and stands as a testament to the dedication and tireless efforts of the managers, veterinarians, and field staff at Kuno”, he stated.
With this litter, a total of 49 cubs have been born in 11 litters since 2023, of which 37 survive at Kuno.
(UNI)
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