In a notable advancement for India’s cheetah reintroduction initiative, a female cheetah named Gamini, brought from South Africa, has given birth to six cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This development increases the park’s cheetah population to 27, comprising 13 adults and 14 cubs.
Initially, on March 10, 2024, it was reported that Gamini had delivered five cubs. However, a subsequent update on March 18 confirmed the birth of a sixth cub, marking a record for a first-time mother cheetah at Kuno.
Gamini is part of the group of cheetahs translocated from South Africa in February 2023 under Project Cheetah, which aims to reintroduce the species to India after their extinction in the country over 70 years ago. The project’s initial phase began in September 2022 with the arrival of eight cheetahs from Namibia.
This is the fourth cheetah litter born on Indian soil and the first from a South African cheetah. Previous litters were born to Namibian cheetahs Jwala and Aasha, with varying survival rates among the cubs.
While the births signify progress, the project has faced challenges, including the deaths of several cheetahs due to various factors. Experts have raised concerns about the park’s capacity to support the growing cheetah population and the need for proper management to ensure the long-term success of the reintroduction efforts.
Despite these challenges, the birth of Gamini’s cubs offers hope for the project’s objectives and the restoration of cheetahs to India’s ecosystems.
