Bhopal, Nov 20: In a significant milestone for India’s ambitious Cheetah Reintroduction Project, an India-born female cheetah, Mukhi, has successfully given birth to five healthy cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This marks the first instance of successful reproduction by a cheetah born on Indian soil, underscoring the success of the translocation initiative.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav shared the exciting news on social media, calling it a "historic milestone" and an "unprecedented breakthrough" for the project. He wrote, “Indian-born cheetah Mukhi has given birth to five cubs in Kuno National Park. The mother and cubs are doing well.” The CM highlighted that Mukhi, at just 33 months old, has become the first India-born cheetah to reproduce, adding a video of the cheetah and her newborns.
This momentous event is seen as a major success in the cheetah reintroduction program, marking a significant step towards establishing a self-sustaining cheetah population in India. It highlights the species’ successful adaptation to Indian habitats, raising hopes for a future where cheetahs can thrive and breed across generations.
Mukhi’s journey has been one of resilience. Born in March 2023, she was the sole survivor of a litter of four after her siblings perished due to extreme heat. Mukhi’s mother, a Namibian cheetah named Jwala, abandoned her, and she was hand-reared by park officials. Despite this early adversity, Mukhi’s growth into a mother herself demonstrates the dedication of conservation teams.
The birth of five cubs, which is a notably large litter for cheetahs, has increased optimism for the species’ genetic diversity and long-term viability. “This successful reproduction by an India-born cheetah is a strong indicator of the species' health and adaptation,” CM Yadav said. He also noted that the achievement furthers India’s conservation goals under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Park authorities have been monitoring Mukhi and her cubs 24/7 using radio collars and camera traps. Both mother and cubs are reported to be in excellent health, with experts viewing this development as a "turning point" for the species in India. It proves that cheetahs can not only survive but thrive in Indian ecosystems.
Launched on September 17, 2022, by Prime Minister Modi, Project Cheetah is the world’s first effort to reintroduce cheetahs, a species declared extinct in India in 1952, through translocation from Africa. The first batches of eight cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa were brought to Kuno National Park, reviving the Asiatic cheetah's lineage in its historical range.
Despite early challenges, including adult mortalities, the project has led to the birth of over two dozen cubs in India, with survival rates exceeding the global averages for the species. As the cheetah population at Kuno continues to grow, plans are underway to expand habitats to other protected areas such as the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
This breakthrough reinforces India’s position as a global leader in wildlife restoration, showcasing its commitment to bold conservation efforts that aim to restore endangered species and preserve biodiversity.
