Cheetahs disappeared from India more than 70 years ago. The Indian government wants to restore the position. For that, cheetahs have been brought to India from southern Africa.
A cheetah gave birth to four cubs in Kuno National Park in India on Wednesday. This is the first time in decades that cheetah cubs are born in India.
Cheetahs disappeared from India more than 70 years ago. The reason is considered to be their hunting and habitat loss.
The Indian government wanted to restore the cheetah population, and therefore eight cheetahs from Namibia were transferred to India in September 2022. It was reportedly the first time that wild cheetahs were moved from one continent to another for release into the wild.
For cheetahs, a new park was established in India about 300 kilometers from the capital Delhi. Yesterday, Wednesday, a three-year-old female named Siyaya gave birth there.
The cheetah was cornered in Asia
The Asian cheetah’s historical range has extended in Asia from the Middle East to Bangladesh. Now in the 2020s, the Asiatic cheetah has only been found in the wild in Iran.
In India, efforts are being made to restore cheetahs already in the 1950s (you switch to another service). Originally Asiatic cheetahs had to be brought to India from Iran. Discussions about bringing cheetahs from Africa started in the 1990s (you switch to another service).
Cheetahs in Africa is around 7,000 (you switch to another service), most of them in southern Africa. Cheetahs have also been brought to India from the neighboring country of Namibia: 12 cheetahs were transferred from South Africa in February this year.
Critics have suspected that cheetahs imported from Africa would have difficulty adapting to their new habitat. In the same area, among other things, leopards live, which are a threat to the cheetah cubs. Cheetahs could also wander outside the park and fall prey to other animals or people.
According to the Indian authorities, the concerns are unfounded. Also coordinated the project in Namibia Laurie Marker said in September (switching to another service)that cheetahs are adaptable and will probably do well in India.
Government of India celebrates the birth of puppies
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was conspicuously involved in the transfer of cheetahs to India. Among other things, he let the animals free in Kuno park in September in honor of his 72nd birthday.
Government ministers have been happy about the birth of cheetah cubs.
– Wonderful news, Modi tweeted.
According to the Indian authorities, the sex of the puppies is not yet known.
Sources: Reuters, AFP