Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday (February 5, 2025) released five cheetahs, including female Veera who gave birth to two cubs on Tuesday (February 4, 2025), into the wild from their enclosures at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district.
The other cheetahs set free include female Asha and her three cubs. Two cheetahs — Agni and Vayu — already roam freely in the forest since they were released on December 4, 2024, on the occasion of International Cheetah Day.
Mr. Yadav shared pictures from the national park on social media platform X and said the “king of speed” will gallop in the open forest.
“Today in Palpur-Kuno National Park, female cheetah ‘Asha’, female cheetah ‘Veera’ who recently gave birth to cubs and three cubs of ‘Asha’ were released from a big enclosure into the open forest. On this occasion, a review was also conducted with the officials regarding the cheetah project,” the Chief Minister wrote.
Mr. Yadav also said that it was a matter of great pleasure to see the cheetahs, that had gone extinct from the Asian continent, are gaining speed again and increasing their population in Madhya Pradesh.
“The land of Madhya Pradesh with the spirit of ‘jeev charachar jantu samaana’ is amazing; which is the ideal shelter for wildlife and the courtyard of the frolic of many endangered wild animals. We are committed to preserving wildlife and biodiversity for the coming generations and will continue to make the holy land of Madhya Pradesh proud with such innovations in the future too,” he added.
Earlier on Tuesday (February 4, 2025), Veera gave birth to two cubs, taking the total population of cheetahs at the national park to 26.
Eight cheetahs had been brought from Namibia and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released them in the enclosures at the park on September 17, 2022, marking a return of the feline species to the country.
Six to eight more cheetahs are also set to be brought from South Africa and moved to a new home, Gandhinagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district of the State. While an official date is yet to be decided, officials say that it could be before April this year.
