Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Saturday hailed a historic milestone in India’s cheetah conservation journey, as an Indian-born female cheetah—Gamini (KGP-12), the second cub from her mother’s first litter and aged 25 months—gave birth to four cubs in the wild at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
In a social media post, Yadav described the development as a “milestone moment” for Kuno National Park and the country’s wildlife conservation efforts.
He noted that the Indian-born female cheetah, which has been in the wild for over a year, successfully gave birth under natural conditions, marking a major step forward in the cheetah reintroduction programme.
The Union Minister highlighted that this is the first recorded birth in the wild since the cheetah reintroduction began in 2022, and significantly, the first such instance involving an Indian-born female cheetah.
He emphasised that the development represents a major achievement towards the project’s core objectives—ensuring the survival and breeding of cheetahs under natural conditions in India.
Yadav said the achievement reflects the growing adaptation of cheetahs to Indian ecological conditions and demonstrates the success of sustained conservation and scientific management efforts at Kuno National Park.
He also appreciated the dedication and tireless efforts of wildlife managers, veterinarians, and field staff involved in the programme, calling it a proud moment for the nation and congratulating all those associated with the project.