Jwala delivers 5 cubs at Kuno National Park; India’s cheetah population rises to 53

BHOPAL: In a significant milestone for India’s ambitious Project Cheetah, Kuno National Park welcomed five new cubs on Sunday after Namibian cheetah Jwala, a proven mother in the programme, delivered her third litter.

The birth has pushed the country’s cheetah population to 53, taking the reintroduction effort past the half-century mark for the first time.Forest officials confirmed that the cubs were born on March 9, 2026, inside Kuno’s protected habitat under close monitoring by veterinary teams and field staff. With this litter, the number of Indian-born cheetah cubs has risen to 33, making it the tenth successful litter recorded on Indian soil since the translocation programme began.

Officials described the development as a major boost to the conservation project, which aims to re-establish a viable population of the world’s fastest land animal in India after the species was declared extinct in the country in 1952.

Jwala, one of the cheetahs translocated from Namibia in 2022, has now emerged as one of the most successful mothers in the programme. Her earlier litters have also contributed significantly to the growing population at Kuno.

“This is an encouraging milestone for Project Cheetah. The birth of five cubs and the crossing of the 50 mark shows the programme is gradually stabilising,” a senior forest department official said.Wildlife experts noted that the births indicate the animals are adapting to Kuno’s landscape, which includes grasslands, woodland patches and prey species such as chital and chinkara that are suitable for cheetah survival.Officials also credited the outcome to the intensive monitoring and management carried out by the ground teams. Veterinarians, wildlife biologists and forest guards have been working round-the-clock to track the animals, monitor health conditions and ensure safe breeding conditions within the park.The programme has faced challenges in its early years, including cub mortality and the need for adaptive management strategies.

However, the steady increase in births over the past two years is being seen as a positive sign for the long-term success of the project.With the addition of Jwala’s latest litter, India’s total cheetah population now stands at 53, including both translocated adults from Africa and cubs born in Kuno.Officials said the cubs will remain under close observation in the coming weeks, a crucial period for survival in the wild.

If they thrive, they could eventually be part of future plans to expand cheetah populations to other suitable habitats in India.Conservationists say the milestone marks another step in restoring a species that once roamed India’s grasslands.“ For Project Cheetah, the birth of Jwala’s five cubs is both a scientific achievement and a symbolic moment in the country’s ongoing wildlife restoration efforts” said an officer. CM Dr Mohan Yadav also tweeted the development.