The Aryavarth Express:
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme reached a significant milestone on Monday as the country’s cheetah population crossed 50. Namibian cheetah Jwala gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, taking the total number of cheetahs in India to 53.
With the latest births, the number of cheetah cubs born in India and surviving has increased to 33. The development marks another major achievement for the ongoing Project Cheetah initiative.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav welcomed the news and called it a proud moment for wildlife conservation in the country. In a post on X, he said the birth of the five cubs represents an important milestone for Project Cheetah and reflects the success of India’s efforts to reintroduce the species.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav also expressed happiness over the development, noting that Jwala has become a successful third-time mother with the latest litter. He said the birth marks the tenth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil and an important step in India’s conservation journey.
The minister also praised the efforts of veterinarians, field staff and other personnel involved in the project, acknowledging their dedication and hard work in supporting the conservation initiative.
Project Cheetah, launched on September 17, 2022, is the world’s first intercontinental translocation project aimed at reintroducing cheetahs to India. The species had been declared extinct in the country in 1952.
