Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India]: In a significant move for wildlife conservation, a female cheetah and her two male and two female cubs will be released into the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, announced Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
Taking to his official ‘X’ handle, CM Yadav highlighted that this step aims to enhance both wildlife conservation and tourism in the region.
“The population of cheetahs will increase in Kuno! In the Khajuri tourist zone of Kuno National Park, female cheetah Gamini from South Africa will be released in the open forest tomorrow along with her two male and two female cubs,” Yadav stated.
“During the safari, tourists will get an opportunity to see cheetahs in their natural habitat, which will definitely increase the number of tourists. The Madhya Pradesh government is committed to taking wildlife conservation and tourism to new heights,” he added.
Recent Conservation Efforts
This release follows the earlier introduction of adult cheetahs Asha and Veera, along with three newborn cubs, into Kuno National Park on February 4. CM Yadav expressed hope for their good health, emphasizing that the state’s commitment to conservation was bearing fruit.
“Today we have released five cheetahs in Kuno — ‘Asha’, ‘Veera’, and three cubs of Asha… We hope they will grow healthy,” CM Yadav told ANI.
Project Cheetah’s Journey
Project Cheetah, an ambitious conservation initiative, was launched to revive the extinct cheetah population in India. As part of this first-ever intercontinental translocation, 20 cheetahs were brought to Kuno National Park — eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023.
Despite challenges, including the unfortunate deaths of eight adult cheetahs (three females and five males), efforts continue to stabilize and grow the cheetah population in India.
The release of Gamini and her cubs marks another positive step in ensuring the project’s success while offering tourists a unique opportunity to witness these majestic creatures in their natural environment.