New Delhi: India’s cheetah population has crossed the 50 mark after a Namibian cheetah named Jwala delivered five cubs at Kuno National Park, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on Monday.
With the birth of the new cubs, the total number of cheetahs in the country has reached 53, marking a key milestone for Project Cheetah, the programme aimed at reintroducing the big cats to India after decades of absence.
The minister shared photographs of the newborn cubs from Kuno National Park and described the development as a “moment of pride” for the conservation initiative. He said the births represent a significant step in the ongoing effort to establish a stable population of cheetahs in the country.
Project Cheetah was launched to reintroduce the endangered species to India by relocating animals from African nations. Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh became the primary site for the translocation of the big cats as part of this conservation programme.
Officials noted that the increase in numbers reflects steady progress since the introduction of the first group of cheetahs to the reserve. The programme has focused on habitat management, monitoring of animals and veterinary care to support the adaptation of the species in India.
The latest births have also contributed to the rise in the number of cheetahs born on Indian soil. According to Bhupender Yadav, the five cubs born to Jwala have taken the count of Indian-born surviving cubs to 33. This litter is also the tenth successful cheetah birth recorded in India since the start of the programme.
The minister praised the efforts of the teams involved in managing the project, including veterinarians and field staff who oversee monitoring and protection activities in the reserve. He said their continued work has played a crucial role in supporting the conservation effort.
“May Jwala and her cubs grow strong and race ahead, carrying India’s cheetah story to even greater heights,” Yadav said in his statement.
The announcement follows another development earlier this month when nine cheetahs were brought to India from Botswana as part of the same conservation initiative. The group, which included six females and three males, arrived on March 1 and was released at Kuno National Park.
The animals were transported from Botswana to India using a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III operated by the Indian Air Force, in what officials described as a coordinated international operation.
The arrival of the nine cheetahs and the birth of new cubs have together contributed to the overall increase in the population under the programme.
Last month, another Namibian cheetah named Astha also gave birth to five cubs at the same park on February 7. At that time, the number of surviving cubs born in India had reached 24.
Officials say the continued births and successful survival of cubs indicate progress in the long-term goal of restoring a viable cheetah population in India. The conservation programme is expected to continue monitoring the animals closely as the population grows.
