Kuno National Park witnessed a new milestone in India's cheetah conservation efforts as the cheetah Nirva gave birth to five cubs. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav and Union Minister for the Environment Bhupender Yadav shared the news on X.

The Chief Minister said, “The success of the cheetah project symbolises the enrichment of biodiversity in India. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is achieving historic milestones in the conservation of its natural heritage.”

With this development, India's total cheetah population now stands at 31. The Kuno park now houses 29 cheetahs, including 19 cubs and 10 adults. Two male cheetahs from Kuno, Pawak and Prabhash, were recently relocated to Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

Kuno National Park officials confirmed that Nirva gave birth on April 25, but the presence of the cubs was verified on Sunday through video footage recorded by veterinarians.

Nirva, who was brought from South Africa in February 2023, is five-and-a-half years old. She had been residing in a large enclosure when she gave birth on Sunday. Last year too, she gave birth to two cubs, but unfortunately, they did not survive.

In September 2022, eight cheetahs from Namibia — five females and three males — were released into Kuno National Park, marking the first-ever intercontinental relocation of the species.

In February 2023, twelve more cheetahs arrived from South Africa. Prior to the recent birth of five cubs, Kuno was home to 24 cheetahs, including 14 cubs born in India.

Source: India Today