In a momentous event at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Cheetah ‘Gamini’ celebrated motherhood by welcoming five adorable cubs into the world, bringing the national count of these majestic felines to 26, as announced by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday. Expressing his excitement on the social media platform X, the Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change exclaimed, “High Five, Kuno! Today, our 5-year-old cheetah, Gamini, who was brought all the way from Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in South Africa, graced us with the birth of 5 cubs.”
The total tally of cheetah cubs born in India has now reached 13, shared the minister, marking this occasion as the fourth cheetah litter on Indian soil and the inaugural one from cheetahs imported from South Africa, as highlighted by Yadav. He extended his congratulations to the dedicated team of forest officers, veterinarians, and field staff, acknowledging their efforts in fostering a stress-free environment for the cheetahs, ultimately leading to the successful mating and birth of the cubs. The overall count of cheetahs, including the newly arrived cubs, stands at 26 in Kuno National Park, showcasing the continuation of Gamini’s legacy with the introduction of her adorable offspring.
This milestone is part of the ambitious cheetah reintroduction project, initiated with the release of eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, into enclosures at Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022. Following this, in February 2023, an additional 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa, with Gamini being among the members of this group imported from the southern continent.