Cheetah Gamini and Cubs published in Wild in Kuno National Park

Gamini, the South African Cheetah, and her four cubs (two male and two women at the age of 12 months) were successfully released in the Khajuri Forest Area des Knp in the district of Sheopur, said the additional main conservator of the Forests, Uttam Kumar Sharma.

“The mother and all four boys are healthy. This forest area is part of the Ahera Tourism Zone,” says the publication. Due to the presence of cheetahs in the tourism zone, visitors can now have the opportunity to see the big cats during the safari.

“After the release of Gamini and their four cubs, there are now 17 cheetah in the Kuno National Park (including 11 Cubs born on Indian soil). All cheetahs are healthy and are good in the wilderness,” says the publication.

Prime Minister Mohan Yadav in one post on X on Sunday evening said that the increased number of cheetahs will offer tourists the opportunity to watch them in their natural habitat, which will attract more visitors to KNP.

The government of Madhya Pradesh is determined to bring nature conservation and tourism to new heights, he added. According to civil servants, Gamini gave birth to six Cubs in their first litter on March 10, 2024. However, two of the Cubs died in the following months. On February 21 of this year, Cheetah Jwala and her four Cubs were released into the wilderness in KNP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated the Cheetah translocation project with the historical publication of eight cheets – five women and three men – on September 17, 2022 with the historical publication of eight cheets – five women and three men.

This was the first intercontinental translocation of large cats. In February 2023, 12 additional cheetah from South Africa were translated into the KNP. The total number of the cheetahs in the KNP is now 26, including 14 boys born on the Indian soil.

The ambitious project is part of India's efforts to restore the Cheetah population and to improve nature conservation and tourism in the region.