New Delhi: Indian-born cheetah Mukhi has delivered five cubs at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, marking a breakthrough for India’s cheetah revival efforts. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav shared the update online, confirming that Mukhi and her cubs are healthy.
Mukhi, now 33 months old and born in Kuno itself, has become the first Indian-born female cheetah to give birth. This development indicates that cheetahs born in India are adjusting well to the landscape, offering strong hope for long-term population growth under Project Cheetah.
The project, launched in September 2022, aims to rebuild the species in India by bringing cheetahs from African nations such as Namibia and South Africa. Although the programme has faced setbacks, including the loss of several adults and cubs, the survival rate of cubs at Kuno has crossed 61%, notably higher than global averages.
Mukhi’s successful reproduction adds momentum to ongoing plans to introduce more cheetahs from Botswana and Namibia, helping strengthen genetic diversity. The event is being hailed as a significant conservation achievement and a promising sign for the future of India’s cheetah population.