High five! Cheetah Gamini gives birth to 5 cubs at Kuno

 

 

 

 

 

A five-year-old cheetah ‘Gamini’, brought from South Africa, delivered five cubs in Kuno National Park in Sheopur district on Sunday. The development stands as a significant milestone for India’s conservation efforts. Just 46 days after ‘Jwala’ introduced three adorable cubs into the world, wildlife sanctuary in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh had another reason to rejoice after ‘Gamini’ delivered five cubs, on Sunday.

 

The National Park has total 26 cheetahs, including 13 cubs, giving laureals to forest officers. Central Forest and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday informed about the newborn cubs on social media. He said, “High Five, Kuno! Female cheetah Gamini, aged about 5 years, brought from Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa, has given birth to 5 cubs today.” Total 13 cubs born in India and this is the fourth litter of cheetah in India and first litter of the cheetah brought from SA.” Earlier, on January 23, Cheetah ‘Jwala’ had delivered three cubs and on March 27, 2023, ‘Asha’ delivered four cubs out of which only one has survived. DFO R Thikural informed that all the five cubs are looking healthy.

 

Forest team is monitoring the health and safety issues of both mother and the cubs. Officials said that cheetahs were enclosed for past months for treatment purpose. When all cheetahs were checked and treated, the team started breeding plan of cats by releasing them into a separate enclosure. Female cheetahs were released with male cheetahs for various times to make the breeding plan successful. He said the team is monitoring them from a distance as big cats never allow humans to get closer.