India’s cheetah population reached 60 after an Indian-born female gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, before dropping back to 59 following the death of an eight-month-old cub born to Namibian cheetah Aasha.
Botswanan Lineage Begins With Five New Cubs at Kuno National Park
The 32-month-old mother became the third Indian-born female to reproduce in the country, following Mukhi and KGP12. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav shared the development on social media, congratulating veterinarians, field staff, managers, and everyone associated with the reintroduction programme for their dedication and tireless efforts.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav noted that the litter marks the beginning of the Botswana lineage in India, because the father is a male cheetah from Botswana. The arrival added a fresh genetic strain to the reintroduction initiative, bringing India’s total cheetah count to 60, with 41 of those animals born on Indian soil. The Union Minister described the births as another generation of cheetahs born on Indian soil, adding a new chapter to the story of cheetah reintroduction.
Eight-Month-Old Asha Cub Found Dead During Morning Monitoring
That milestone headcount proved short-lived.
Staff launched an immediate search through the park grounds. They located the missing eight-month-old cub dead, reducing the national cheetah count to 59, according to forest authorities.
“During morning monitoring, Asha was observed with four of her five cubs. A search was undertaken to locate the missing cub, which was subsequently found dead.”
Field Director, Cheetah Project, Uttam Kumar Sharma
Officials stated that the cause of death remains unclear and will only be determined after veterinary teams complete a post-mortem examination.
Madhya Pradesh Sanctuaries House Cheetahs Across Three Reserves
Following the cub’s death, Kuno National Park holds 53 cheetahs, with 40 of them born in India and 15 ranging freely in the wild. State wildlife authorities have also distributed animals to other protected areas to build up regional populations, including two cheetahs relocated to the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve on October seven.
| Sanctuary or Reserve | Cheetah Count |
|---|---|
| Kuno National Park | 53 |
| Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary | 4 |
| Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve | 2 |
Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary houses four cheetahs, while Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve holds two animals following a relocation. Across all locations in Madhya Pradesh, 41 of the 59 total cheetahs were born in India.
Extinction in 1952 Preceded Current Reintroduction Experiment
India declared cheetahs extinct in 1952.
While captive births and litters born in the wild demonstrate that translocated animals can reproduce, mortality among both adults and young cubs presents ongoing challenges. Project officials maintain that survival rates among Indian-born cubs compare favorably with global averages, though officials continue monitoring Aasha and her four surviving offspring as post-mortem investigations into the latest cub death get underway.