कुनो नेशनल पार्क में चीता परियोजना का नया चरण: शावकों का जन्म
मध्य प्रदेश के कुनो नेशनल पार्क में एक मादा चीता ने चार स्वस्थ शावकों को जन्म दिया है, जो 'प्रोजेक्ट चीता' की सफलता का संकेत है।
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- A female cheetah at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, gave birth to four cubs in the first week of May 2026.
- 'Project Cheetah', aimed at reintroducing cheetahs to India, is a global first in intercontinental wild carnivore translocation, launched in 2022.
- The first cheetahs arrived from Namibia in September 2022, followed by 12 from South Africa in February 2023.
- Kuno National Park was selected for its suitable habitat, prey base, and isolation.
- This birth marks a significant success for the project, indicating successful adaptation and breeding in the Indian environment.
- Despite initial challenges and several cheetah deaths since 2022, the birth of cubs offers renewed hope for the species' survival in India.
- The project is overseen by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | Very High | 12–20 | Environment and Ecology is a separate section in UPSC Prelims. GS-III includes environment, climate change, and disaster management. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 3–5 | National parks, Ramsar sites, pollution levels, and climate summits appear in SSC GK. |
| State PCS / PSC | High | 5–8 | State PCS papers test both central environment policy and state-specific conservation achievements. |
Key Facts to Remember: कुनो नेशनल पार्क में चीता परियोजना का नया चरण: शावकों का जन्म
- A female cheetah at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, gave birth to four cubs in the first week of May 2026.
- 'Project Cheetah', aimed at reintroducing cheetahs to India, is a global first in intercontinental wild carnivore translocation, launched in 2022.
- The first cheetahs arrived from Namibia in September 2022, followed by 12 from South Africa in February 2023.
- Kuno National Park was selected for its suitable habitat, prey base, and isolation.
- This birth marks a significant success for the project, indicating successful adaptation and breeding in the Indian environment.
- Despite initial challenges and several cheetah deaths since 2022, the birth of cubs offers renewed hope for the species' survival in India.
- The project is overseen by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952.
Practice Questions
Q1. In which Indian state is Kuno National Park located, which is central to Project Cheetah?
- Rajasthan
- Gujarat
- Madhya Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Kuno National Park, the primary site for Project Cheetah, is situated in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. The state's geography and ecosystem were deemed suitable for the reintroduction of cheetahs.
Q2. Which countries were the primary sources for the cheetahs translocated to India under Project Cheetah?
- Kenya and Tanzania
- Namibia and South Africa
- Botswana and Zimbabwe
- Ethiopia and Somalia
Explanation: The initial batch of cheetahs was brought from Namibia in September 2022, followed by a larger group from South Africa in February 2023, as part of the ambitious Project Cheetah.
Q3. What is the official name of the project aimed at reintroducing cheetahs to India?
- Project Rewild
- Project Big Cat
- Project Cheetah
- Project Conservation India
Explanation: The initiative undertaken by the Indian government to bring cheetahs back to India after their extinction is officially known as 'Project Cheetah'. It was launched in 2022.
Q4. In which year were cheetahs officially declared extinct in India?
- 1947
- 1952
- 1965
- 1971
Explanation: Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in the year 1952. The last recorded sightings were of Asiatic cheetahs in the Chhattisgarh region. Project Cheetah aims to reverse this extinction.
Q5. The birth of cheetah cubs in Kuno National Park in May 2026 is significant because:
- It is the first time cheetahs have ever been introduced to India.
- It marks the successful breeding of translocated cheetahs, indicating adaptation.
- It signifies the complete eradication of threats to cheetahs in India.
- It leads to the immediate declaration of Kuno National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explanation: The birth of cubs is a critical indicator of the success of 'Project Cheetah'. It demonstrates that the cheetahs are not only surviving but are also capable of reproducing in the Indian environment, a key objective of the reintroduction program.
How to Prepare Environment for Government Exams — कुनो नेशनल पार्क में चीता परियोजना का नया चरण: शा…
Ramsar sites and World Heritage Site additions are announced annually. Compile the year's additions — they are direct exam questions.
For UPSC, understand the international treaty context: Paris Agreement, CBD, CITES, Ramsar — know what each treaty does.
Climate news = policy news. Always note the government response to any environmental event — that's what UPSC Mains tests.
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