Bhopal, Mar 29 (PTI) Mukhi, the first cheetah born in India following an ambitious reintroduction programme that began in September 2022 in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, turned three on Sunday, officials said.
"India's first-born cheetah Mukhi turns three today. Her journey reflects the success of Project Cheetah," MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in a celebratory post on X.
Mukhi was born on March 29, 2023 to Namibian cheetah Jwala at KNP in Sheopur district, Cheetah Project Director Uttam Sharma told PTI.
"Mukhi gave birth to five cubs on November 20 last year. A total of 45 cubs have been born in 10 litters since 2023, of which 33 survive at Kuno. The overall cheetah population in India, including cubs, has reached 53. All six adult female cheetahs have produced litters at Kuno," Sharma said underlining the success of the programme.
Three cheetahs have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, while the rest remain at Kuno, Sharma added.
Cheetahs were official declared extinct in India in 1952, after which, under a reintroduction programme, eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia in September 2022, followed by 12 from South Africa in February 2023. A third batch of nine cheetahs arrived from Botswana on February 28 this year.