India-born cheetah gives birth to four cubs at Kuno; total population reaches 57
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Biodiversity & conservation· Prelims·
Why in news
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the first recorded birth of cheetah cubs in an open forest at Kuno National Park since the launch of Project Cheetah in 2022.
Background
An India-born cheetah, daughter of the South African cheetah Gamini, gave birth to four cubs in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. This milestone brings the total cheetah population in the project to 57.
Facts for Prelims
- FactTotal cheetah population in India reached 57 as of April 2026
- PlaceKuno National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh
- FactProject Cheetah was launched in 2022
- EnvironmentThe cubs were born to a daughter of a South African cheetah named Gamini
For Mains
Q. Examine the ecological and conservation challenges associated with the reintroduction of apex predators like cheetahs into Indian forest ecosystems.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Habitat suitability: Balancing prey density and grassland requirements with local agricultural land use
- Genetic diversity: Risks of inbreeding depression in small founder populations without sufficient genetic influx
- Human-wildlife conflict: Mitigation of livestock predation and potential retaliatory actions by local communities
Keywords: Apex predator · In-situ conservation · Genetic bottleneck · Habitat restoration · Biodiversity conservation
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.