REJOICE: Cheetah ‘Mukhi’ delivers five cubs at Kuno

 

 

 

The India-born female cheetah Mukhi has made history by giving birth to five healthy cubs at Kuno National Park in Sheopur, marking a significant milestone for India’s cheetah reintroduction program. At 33 months of age, Mukhi is the first India-born female cheetah to successfully reproduce, highlighting her adaptation to the wild. With Mukhi’s successful birth, the total number of cheetahs in India has increased to 32, reflecting the progress of the country’s cheetah reintroduction program.

 

Mukhi’s success is part of Project Cheetah, launched under the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reintroduce cheetahs in India after decades of local extinction. The project began on September 17, 2022, when eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia and released at Kuno National Park. In recent developments, two male cheetahs were successfully relocated to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, further strengthening the population.

 

Over the past three years, five female cheetahs have given birth six times, demonstrating their resilience, adaptability to Indian habitats, and compatibility with native prey species like cheetal. The event is seen as a crucial step toward establishing a self-sustaining and genetically diverse population of cheetahs in the country. It also reinforces efforts to meet India’s broader biodiversity conservation goals, as Project Cheetah continues to focus on creating viable habitats and supporting natural breeding in the wild.

 

Authorities at are closely monitoring Mukhi and her cubs to ensure their safety and well-being. The birth is expected to encourage initiatives for habitat protection, species monitoring, and overall wildlife conservation, demonstrating effectiveness of careful reintroduction and management programs. CM Dr Mohan Yadav has extended congratulations on this unprecedented achievement, confirming that both Mukhi and her cubs are healthy.