Project Cheetah: Five New Cubs Born in Kuno National Park
In a boost to India's cheetah reintroduction program, five new cubs have been born to a translocated Namibian cheetah in Kuno National Park.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- Project Cheetah aims to reintroduce cheetahs to India, declared extinct in 1952.
- Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh is the primary site for Project Cheetah.
- Cheetahs were translocated from Namibia (September 2022) and South Africa (February 2023).
- Five new cheetah cubs were born to 'Aasha' (from Namibia) in Kuno National Park.
- This is the second successful litter, following four cubs born to 'Jwala' (from South Africa) in March 2023.
- Project Cheetah is the world's first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation.
- The birth of cubs indicates successful adaptation of translocated cheetahs to the Indian environment.
- The project involves collaboration between India, Namibia, South Africa, and organizations like WII.
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. |
| Railway (RRB NTPC / Group D) | High | 3–6 | Environment is a reliable Railway GK category — national parks, endangered species, pollution. |
Key Facts to Remember: Project Cheetah: Five New Cubs Born in Kuno National Park
- Project Cheetah aims to reintroduce cheetahs to India, declared extinct in 1952.
- Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh is the primary site for Project Cheetah.
- Cheetahs were translocated from Namibia (September 2022) and South Africa (February 2023).
- Five new cheetah cubs were born to 'Aasha' (from Namibia) in Kuno National Park.
- This is the second successful litter, following four cubs born to 'Jwala' (from South Africa) in March 2023.
- Project Cheetah is the world's first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation.
- The birth of cubs indicates successful adaptation of translocated cheetahs to the Indian environment.
- The project involves collaboration between India, Namibia, South Africa, and organizations like WII.
Practice Questions
Q1. In which Indian national park is Project Cheetah primarily being implemented?
- Jim Corbett National Park
- Ranthambore National Park
- Kuno National Park
- Bandhavgarh National Park
Explanation: Kuno National Park, located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, has been designated as the primary site for Project Cheetah due to its suitable habitat and prey base.
Q2. From which two countries were cheetahs translocated for Project Cheetah?
- Kenya and Tanzania
- Namibia and South Africa
- Botswana and Zimbabwe
- India and Sri Lanka
Explanation: Cheetahs were initially translocated from Namibia in September 2022, followed by another group from South Africa in February 2023, as part of Project Cheetah.
Q3. Approximately when were cheetahs declared extinct in India?
- 1947
- 1952
- 1965
- 1971
Explanation: The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952, primarily due to hunting and habitat loss. Project Cheetah aims to reintroduce the species after a gap of over 70 years.
Q4. What significant event occurred in Kuno National Park in March 2023 related to Project Cheetah?
- The arrival of the first batch of cheetahs from Namibia
- The birth of the first cheetah cubs on Indian soil
- The translocation of cheetahs from South Africa
- The declaration of Kuno National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Explanation: In March 2023, four cheetah cubs were born to 'Jwala', a female translocated from South Africa, marking the first successful birth of cheetah cubs in India under Project Cheetah.
Q5. The birth of five new cubs to 'Aasha' is significant because:
- It marks the first successful breeding of cheetahs from Namibia.
- It indicates that the translocated cheetahs are adapting well and reproducing.
- It increases the total number of cheetahs in Kuno to over 30.
- It proves that cheetahs can survive in any Indian habitat.
Explanation: The successful birth of cubs to 'Aasha', a cheetah from the Namibian cohort, demonstrates that the translocated animals are acclimatizing to the Indian environment and are capable of successful reproduction, a key goal of Project Cheetah.
How to Prepare Environment for Government Exams — Project Cheetah: Five New Cubs Born in Kuno Natio…
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.
Related Current Affairs
Test Your Knowledge on Today's Current Affairs
10 questions · 10 minutes · Based on today's GK updates. See how prepared you really are.
Start Daily Quiz