Cheetah Jwala Welcomes Five Cubs at Kuno Park, India's Total Rises to 33
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Sheopur (Madhya Pradesh), March 9 (NationPress) Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh celebrated a significant achievement in India's cheetah initiative on Monday when the Namibian female cheetah, Jwala, gave birth to five cubs, bringing the total count of India-born cheetah cubs to 33.
Jwala was among the first group of eight cheetahs transported from Namibia to Kuno on September 17, 2022, and this marks her third successful litter since her arrival in India.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav hailed this event as a proud achievement for Project Cheetah, noting, "Jwala’s successful delivery of five cubs at Kuno National Park signifies another landmark moment in India's wildlife conservation endeavors."
The minister highlighted that with this new birth, the total number of thriving Indian-born cheetah cubs has now reached 33, representing the 10th successful cheetah litter recorded in India.
He emphasized that this accomplishment underscores the unwavering dedication of veterinarians, forest officials, and field staff who have worked diligently to ensure the success of the cheetah reintroduction program.
“The total cheetah population in India has now risen to 53,” he stated.
This remarkable news follows the recent arrival of another batch of nine cheetahs—six females and three males—brought from Botswana and released into Kuno National Park on February 28.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also expressed his joy regarding the birth of the cubs, calling it a historic moment for wildlife conservation. He remarked, "Cheetah Jwala has given birth to five cubs, marking another significant milestone for Project Cheetah. With this, the cheetah population in India has surpassed the half-century mark, reaching 53."
He further noted that this development is a proud moment for the nation and serves as a strong testament to the success of India's cheetah reintroduction efforts.
Notably, just last month, another cheetah named Gamini also welcomed four cubs at Kuno National Park, further bolstering the growing cheetah population within the country.