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2 min readUpdated: Feb 18, 2026 12:34 PM IST
Gamini has given birth to three cubs at Kuno National Park, becoming a second-time mother under Project Cheetah. (Image via X:@DrMohanYadav51)
Three cheetah cubs were born to the South African female cheetah, Gamini, at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, pushing India’s total cheetah population to 38, officials said. This marks the birth of the ninth successful cheetah litter at Kuno since the launch of Project Cheetah in September 2022.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described Madhya Pradesh as a “powerful centre” of cheetah restoration, calling the new litter a historic achievement for wildlife conservation, biodiversity and environmental balance. “It is a matter of immense joy that under Project Cheetah, the female cheetah Gamini has given birth to three cubs. With this, the total number of cheetahs in India has risen to 38,” he said in a post on X.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav termed the development a “roaring success” of India’s ambitious conservation effort, noting that each successful birth strengthens the foundation of the project and reflects the sustained, round-the-clock work of field staff and veterinary teams at Kuno.
Wildlife officials said the continuing baby boom at Kuno is “critical to the long-term viability of cheetahs in India, a species that went extinct in the country more than seven decades ago.”
“Regular births indicate that the habitat, prey base and protection protocols at Kuno are stabilising, helping reduce dependence on future translocations from Africa. Of particular significance is that Gamini is now a second-time mother, a key indicator that adult females are adapting well to Indian conditions and are capable of repeated, successful reproduction which is essential for building a self-sustaining population,” said a wildlife official.
Since the first cheetahs were introduced at Kuno in 2022, the park has emerged as the nucleus of India’s cheetah revival.
Earlier this month, another female cheetah, Aasha, translocated from Namibia, gave birth to five cubs at Kuno, underlining the park’s central role in the programme. Officials say the focus now “remains on close monitoring of the mother and cubs during the vulnerable early weeks”.
Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More
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