Cheetah gives birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park

An African cheetah, brought from Kuno National Park, being released in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, in Madhya Pradesh, Sunday, April 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Cheetah Nirva has given birth to five cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, said Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday.

With the new litter, the number of cheetahs and cubs will increase to 29 at the Kuno park, located in the State’s Sheopur district. Earlier this month, two cheetahs from the protected forest were shifted to the Gandhi Sagar sanctuary.

The total number of cheetahs, including cubs, in the country now stands at 31.

In a post on X on Sunday night, Mr. Yadav said, “It is a great pleasure that the population of cheetahs at the Kuno National Park is constantly growing. Recently, 5-year-old Nirva has given birth to 5 cubs. The arrival of these little cubs is a symbol of the success of the Cheetah Project and the rich biodiversity of India.” The Chief Minister said the favourable environment created for wildlife conservation under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was prospering.

Hearty congratulations to the entire team of Kuno National Park, wildlife experts and every hard-working partner engaged in conservation for this historic achievement, Mr. Yadav stated.

On April 20, two South African cheetahs, Prabhash and Pavak, who were translocated to Kuno more than two years ago, were released into the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, which spans Neemuch and Mandsaur districts.

Eight Namibian cheetahs, five females and three males, were released into the Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022, marking the first-ever intercontinental translocation of these big cats.

Twelve more cheetahs were brought from South Africa to Kuno in February 2023. Before the birth of these five cubs, the park was home to 24 cheetahs, including 14 India-born cubs. Two of these big cats have now been relocated to the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.