New Delhi, 05 October (H.S.): Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav has expressed happiness over the birth of five healthy cheetah cubs to KJ21, a female cheetah born on Indian soil, at Kuno National Park in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh. He described the development as another historic and joyous moment for Project Cheetah.

KJ21, aged 32 months, is the third female cheetah born in India to give birth to cubs in the country. Before her, Mukhi and KGP12, both born in India, had also become mothers. With the birth of the five new cubs, India's total cheetah population has risen to 60, including 41 cheetahs born in India.

In a post on X on Monday, Bhupender Yadav congratulated the veterinarians, forest personnel, field staff, management teams and all other associates involved in Project Cheetah. He appreciated their dedication, commitment and sustained efforts.

The Union Minister said the birth of another generation of cheetahs on Indian soil marks a new chapter in India's journey to restore the cheetah population. The continued births at Kuno are being regarded as a significant achievement of the conservation and rehabilitation efforts undertaken under Project Cheetah.

The birth of these five cubs is particularly significant because their father is a male cheetah brought from Botswana. Their birth thus marks the beginning of a Botswana cheetah lineage in India, adding a new genetic lineage to the country's growing cheetah population.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar