A Namibian cheetah has given birth to three adorable cubs in Kuno National Park. This remarkable news was joyfully shared online by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, marking a significant achievement for the ongoing Cheetah Reintroduction Project in India. Initiated in 2022, this project involved the importation of several felines from Namibia and South Africa.
"Exciting news from the wild! The Kuno National Park celebrates the arrival of three new members. These delightful cubs belong to Namibian Cheetah Aasha," tweeted Environment Minister Yadav, expressing his delight.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed, "Today, three cheetah cubs were born at Kuno National Park located in Sheopur district under the Cheetah Project initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Madhya Pradesh Government. This marks a significant day worldwide. There was a time when cheetahs were extinct from Asia. Now, a new sprout has sprouted, referring to the birth of the cheetah cubs."
Online visuals capturing the playful antics of the cubs as they frolic in the grass have garnered admiration, with netizens labeling them as "adorable."
Purrs in the wild!????#KunoNationalPark has welcomed three adorable cheetah cubs. The cubs have been born to Namibian #Cheetah Aasha.
— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) January 3, 2024
These cubs are a roaring success of India's conservation efforts under #ProjectCheetah - a visionary initiative by PM @narendramodi to restore… pic.twitter.com/fmrM0kb2k5
The cheetah, once declared extinct in India back in 1952 after the last known one died in 1947 in the Korea district, formerly part of Madhya Pradesh, now sees a promising resurgence thanks to the concerted conservation efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarted the Cheetah Reintroduction Project in mid-September 2022 by releasing the first batch of eight Namibian cheetahs into the Kuno National Park. Following this, approximately two dozen cheetahs from South Africa were translocated in the ensuing months. However, this extensive translocation process posed inherent risks, resulting in the unfortunate mortality of eight out of the initial 20 cats.
India celebrated its first cheetah birth in 75 years last March, when a translocated cheetah from Namibia gave birth to four cubs. Despite the challenges, one cub has thrived, exhibiting a healthy growth trajectory.
After a Long Wait, Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Is Formed Today – Check Out the List Here
