A Namibian cheetah named Jwala has welcomed three adorable cubs at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh. This joyful news comes hot on the heels of another Namibian cheetah, Aasha, giving birth to three cubs just a few weeks prior.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav took to X to share the exciting news on Tuesday, expressing his delight over the expanding cheetah population at KNP.
"Kuno's new cubs! Namibian cheetah named Jwala has given birth to three cubs. This comes just weeks after Namibian cheetah Aasha gave birth to her cubs," he announced. Extending his congratulations to the wildlife frontline warriors and enthusiasts across the country, he added, "May Bharat's wildlife thrive."
The latest litter, born to Jwala on January 20, marks her second set of cubs after a gap of 10 months. Jwala, also known by her Namibian name Siyaya, had previously given birth to four cubs in the month of March the preceding year, though sadly, only one of them survived.
January has proven to be a momentous month for India's cheetah conservation project, witnessing the birth of six cubs. However, the month also brought sorrow with the demise of a Namibian cheetah named Shaurya on January 16.
Since March 2023, a total of seven adult cheetahs, including Shaurya, have succumbed to various reasons within the park, bringing the overall fatality count to 10, including three cubs.
The list of deceased adult cheetahs includes Sasha, Uday, Daksha, Tejas, Suraj, Dhatri, and Shaurya. Notably, the first six fatalities occurred between March and August of the previous year, while Shaurya's demise occurred more recently.
Despite the setbacks, the overall cheetah population at KNP stands at 20, comprising six males, seven females, and seven cubs. Jwala and Aasha are among the cheetahs translocated to India from Namibia under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing the species that had gone extinct in independent India.
The project, initiated with the introduction of eight cheetahs in September 2022, witnessed a second batch of 12 cheetahs arriving from South Africa last February. However, the conservation initiative has faced criticism due to the deaths of seven out of the 20 imported cheetahs.
A significant challenge encountered during the first year of managing the cheetahs in India was the unexpected development of winter coats by some animals during the Indian summer and monsoon.
This adaptation, in anticipation of the African winter (June to September), resulted in itching, leading the cheetahs to scratch their necks on surfaces and causing bruising. Fly infestations, maggot infestations, bacterial infections, and septicemia ensued, contributing to the fatalities.
Officials defending the project noted that the mortalities fell within the expected limits, with approximately 50 percent mortality anticipated according to the Cheetah Action Plan. As of now, 14 imported cheetahs are surviving, along with one cub born on Indian soil, providing a glimmer of hope for the success of Project Cheetah despite its challenges.
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