New Delhi: The death of eight cheetahs out of the 20 cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa has been a big setback for the cheetah project, but on the other hand, the antics of the cubs born on Indian soil are shedding new light on the entire project. Their number is currently 12. Many of these cubs are now close to becoming adults.

Female cubs become adults in one and a half years

Anyway, the male cubs of cheetah become adults in about a year and the female cubs in one and a half years. These cheetah cubs are also being seen as a hope to take the project forward because they do not face any challenge like lack of climate adaptability like the cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa. They are completely acclimatized in the climate here and are also growing rapidly.

According to officials of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Cheetah Project, this progress of cheetah cubs is not only giving light to the project of settling them in the country, but is also brightening the hopes of settling these wild animals from one place to another across the world.

Five cubs of female cheetah Jwala alone

Out of the 12 cubs currently present in these cheetahs settled in Kuno Sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh, eight cubs belong to two female cheetahs brought from Namibia. Five of these cubs belong to the single female cheetah Jwala, while three belong to the female cheetah Asha. Out of the 12 cheetahs brought from South Africa, female cheetah Gamini has brought another new happiness to this project by giving birth to four cubs.

12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa in 2023

According to the ministry's report, 17 cubs have been born in the country, but five of these cubs died. It is worth noting that under the Cheetah Project, eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023. So far, eight cheetahs have died due to different reasons. Of these, four are from Namibia and four from South Africa. All the remaining cheetahs have now been kept in enclosures.

The path was not easy- Bhupendra Yadav

On the occasion of completion of two years of the project, Union Forest and Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav mentioned the challenges faced in the last two years and said that this path of resettling an extinct wildlife was not easy. But it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream, which he achieved.

He said that many challenges have come in this path, but he is overcoming them all and becoming more vigilant. Today the whole world is keeping an eye on the rapidly increasing number of cubs in the country. There are many more milestones ahead.

The third batch of cheetahs will arrive by the end of the year

On the occasion of completion of two years of Cheetah Project, the Ministry of Forest and Environment has also indicated to bring the third batch of cheetahs soon. It is believed that this batch will arrive by the end of this year. There is a plan to bring this third batch of cheetahs from Kenya. Talks with Kenya regarding this are in the final stage.

As per the current plan, a total of 20 to 22 cheetahs will be brought. Half of them will be kept in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, while the rest will be kept in the breeding centre being prepared for cheetahs in Kutch, Gujarat.