The number of leopards is increasing; Female cheetah gives birth to four cubs, number reaches 57 in India
Eight cheetahs were brought to India from Namibia in September 2022 under the Cheetah Rehabilitation Project
Sheopur. On Saturday, a female cheetah of Indian origin gave birth to four cubs in the forest in Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. With this the total number of leopards in the country has increased to 57. According to forest department officials, this is the first birth of a leopard recorded in the Kuno forest. This is considered an important achievement after the inter-continental cheetah rehabilitation program started in September 2022.
Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav shared this achievement on social media platform ‘X’ and described it as an important milestone in India’s cheetah conservation journey. He said that the birth of four cubs by a 25-month-old female cheetah, who has been living in the forest for almost two years, is a major success in the direction of adaptation and reproduction in natural conditions.
Praising the efforts of forest department officials, veterinarians and field staff, Yadav said the achievement reflects the successful adaptation of cheetahs to Indian conditions and is a proud moment for the entire country.
Officials said all seven adult female cheetahs present in Kuno have so far given birth to cubs. Under the Cheetah Rehabilitation Project, eight cheetahs were brought to India from Namibia in September 2022, followed by a second batch of 12 cheetahs from South Africa in February 2023. Recently, on 28 February, a third group of nine cheetahs was also brought from Botswana.
According to the forest department, three leopards have been shifted to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, while the remaining are kept in Kuno. Officials also clarified that endangered species are not confined to a single location to reduce disease risk.
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