Cheetah Gamini, 4 cubs released into Kuno wild

Cheetah Gamini and her four cubs were released into the wild at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, offering tourists a unique opportunity to spot the big cats during safari rides.

The release raised the number of cheetahs in the wild to 17, while nine felines are staying in the enclosures.

Gamini, the South African female cheetah, and her four cubs (two male and two females, aged 12 months) have been successfully released in the Khajuri forest area of the KNP in Sheopur district, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Uttam Kumar Sharma said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav hailed the development as an “important day” in the cheetah project and wildlife conservation.

Yadav said the translocation of cheetahs from South Africa to Madhya Pradesh is an important project not only for India but also for Asia in terms of biodiversity.

The CM said the rising population of cheetahs in the KNP region would encourage tourism activities, generate employment and strengthen the overall economy of the Chambal region.

The selection of Kuno (Sheopur) for this inter-continental project is good fortune for the state, he said.