GUWAHATI: Five cheetah cubs were born on Sunday at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This is the first time that a litter has been born to parents from two distinct populations — South Africa and Namibia.
Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the news on his X handle, writing, “Please join me in welcoming 5 precious new lives in Kuno National Park. In the lap of their mother Nirva, 5-year-old brought from Mapesu Reserve in South Africa, these cubs remind us of the beauty and resilience of nature. May they grow strong, swift, and free, carrying on the legacy of their kind in India. Let us celebrate the hope and future they bring. Congratulations everyone.”
The mother, Nirva, was translocated from South Africa’s Mapesu Reserve. The birth of the cubs marks a milestone for Project Cheetah, launched to reintroduce the species in India after their extinction in the country more than 70 years ago.
Kuno now hosts a total of 19 cheetah cubs in addition to its adult cheetah population. A wildlife official stated that the birth is an indication that the cheetahs have adapted to their new environment and that the next generation is poised to establish another chapter of success for the project.
