Kuno National Park in MP’s Sheopur is gearing up to welcome new guests, as female cheetah Veera is likely to give birth this week. Wildlife enthusiasts and cheetah lovers are cautiously optimistic after they received this news.
Veera is housed in a large enclosure and is under constant medical supervision to ensure a safe delivery. Kuno has already witnessed several cheetah births.
Female cheetahs Nirva, Jwala, Asha, and Gamini have successfully given birth, contributing to the park’s rising cheetah population. Currently, the park is home to 12 adult cheetahs and 12 cubs, with two males—Vayu and Agni—roaming freely in the open jungle, while the rest remain in enclosures.
While the birth of cheetah cubs has been a milestone in the country’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction efforts, challenges persist. In November 2024, Nirva gave birth, but unfortunately, her two cubs were later found dead under distressing circumstances.
Jwala has given birth to eight cubs so far, but three did not survive. Asha successfully delivered three cubs, while Gamini gave birth to six, two of whom have succumbed.
With Veera now preparing to welcome cubs, wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists remain hopeful that India’s efforts in cheetah conservation will yield greater success, ensuring a thriving future for the species in the subcontinent.
