Five cheetahs released in MP’s Kuno National Park, bringing total to 12

This release in the Khajuri forest of the Ahera tourist zone on Friday follows the successful release of seven cheetahs over the past two months

Updated on: Feb 23, 2025, 11:20:26 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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Bhopal: Five cheetahs --- Jwala and her four cubs --- were released into Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, bringing the total number of cheetahs in the park to 12.

Jwala and her four cubs, born in India in January 2024, were released into the wild on Friday (PTI)

This release in the Khajuri forest of the Ahera tourist zone on Friday follows the successful release of seven cheetahs over the past two months.

“Jwala and her four cubs, born in India in January 2024, were released into the wild after the success of the previous cheetah releases,” a forest official said.

Also Read: Cheetah Agni, spotted on Sheopur road in viral video, back in forest: Official

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav visited Kuno National Park on February 5, where he released five cheetahs, including three cubs born in India.

“The cubs are 13 months old and hunt together. Since they were born on Indian soil, they should not face any problems. The three cubs released into the wild about 15 days ago have already been seen hunting prey together and spend most of their time together. The survival of these seven cubs is crucial for the success of the first inter-continental translocation of cheetahs,” said Uttam Sharma, field director of Kuno National Park.

Two cheetahs, Agni and Vayu, who were released into the wild in December, are exploring the area and roaming over a large part of Madhya Pradesh.

Currently, 14 cheetahs are housed in an enclosure and will be released into the wild soon.

A total of 20 cheetahs were translocated to India from Namibia and South Africa in 2022 and 2023, according to an official.

Meanwhile, fencing and other infrastructure work at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur, another cheetah habitat, is nearing completion.

The forest department is considering shifting some of the cheetahs from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar, though the final decision will be made by the task force, a senior forest official said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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