Wildlife Conservation / Indian-Born Cheetah Gives Birth to Five Cubs at Kuno, Population Reaches 60

Bhopal, Oct 5: In a significant milestone for India's ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme, an Indian-born female cheetah at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park has given birth to five healthy cubs, taking the country's total cheetah population to 60, officials said.

The development marks another major success for Project Cheetah, with the number of Indian-born cheetahs now rising to 41. Wildlife officials said the five cubs were born to KJP21, a 32-month-old female cheetah born in India, underscoring the growing success of natural breeding efforts within the country.

New Generation

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav shared the news on social media platform X, describing the birth as an important milestone in the emergence of the next generation of India's cheetah population.

According to the Minister, KJP21 is the third Indian-born female cheetah to give birth after Mukhi and KGP12. The latest litter is expected to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the cheetah population in India.

The birth of the five cubs has increased the country's cheetah population to 60, including 41 cheetahs born on Indian soil since the launch of the reintroduction programme.

Botswana Lineage Added

Officials said the cubs' father is a male cheetah from Botswana, making the litter the first representation of the Botswana genetic lineage in India.

The addition of a new genetic lineage is expected to contribute to greater genetic diversity within the growing cheetah population and strengthen conservation efforts under the project.

Bhupender Yadav said the birth of another generation of cheetahs on Indian soil adds a new chapter to the country's conservation story and reflects the progress achieved under Project Cheetah.
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Know about Project Cheetah

Launched on September 17, 2022, Project Cheetah is India's ambitious initiative to reintroduce cheetahs into the wild after the species became extinct in the country in 1952. The programme involves the translocation of cheetahs from African countries to suitable habitats in India.

Under the project, cheetahs relocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh are being monitored through a scientific conservation and breeding programme. The initiative aims to establish a sustainable free-ranging cheetah population while strengthening biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration efforts.