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A second-time mom at Kuno: Aasha gives birth to 5 cubs

February 07, 2026 4 min read Environment & Ecology GS Paper 3 (Environment Biodiversity Conservation)
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What Happened

  • Aasha, a Namibian cheetah translocated to India under Project Cheetah, gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on February 7, 2026, becoming a second-time mother.
  • Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the milestone, noting that India's total cheetah population has risen to 35 and the number of Indian-born surviving cubs has reached 24.
  • This marks the eighth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil since the launch of the reintroduction programme in September 2022.
  • Aasha arrived at Kuno on September 17, 2022, in a crate marked "Aasha -- The Hope" as part of the founding group from Namibia. She had previously delivered three cubs on January 1, 2024, who are now 25 months old.
  • Both mother and cubs are under round-the-clock observation through remote surveillance and field monitoring, with no human intervention unless medically required.

Static Topic Bridges

Project Cheetah and Species Reintroduction

Project Cheetah is India's programme to reintroduce cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) into the wild after the species was declared extinct in the country in 1952. It is the world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.

  • The Asiatic cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952; the last officially recorded cheetah was killed in 1947 in present-day Chhattisgarh
  • Discussions on reintroduction began in the 1970s with proposals to Iran; the Supreme Court initially blocked the project in 2012 but reversed its decision in January 2020
  • On September 17, 2022, eight Southeast African cheetahs (five female, three male) were translocated from Namibia to Kuno National Park by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
  • A second batch of 12 cheetahs arrived from South Africa in February 2023
  • A third batch of eight cheetahs from Botswana is scheduled to arrive on February 28, 2026
  • The programme has faced challenges including deaths of translocated adults and cubs, but the eighth successful litter marks continued progress

Connection to this news: The birth of five cubs to Aasha, a founding member of the translocated group, and the survival of 24 Indian-born cubs demonstrate that the reproductive phase of Project Cheetah is advancing, even as the programme prepares to receive its third batch of cheetahs from Botswana.

Kuno National Park

Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh was selected as the primary site for cheetah reintroduction after extensive habitat assessment. Originally developed as a potential site for Asiatic lion translocation from Gir, it was later repurposed for Project Cheetah.

  • Spread over 748 sq km (with a core area of 487 sq km), located in the Vindhyan hills of north Madhya Pradesh
  • The park's dry deciduous forests and grasslands provide suitable habitat for cheetahs
  • Previously designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1981 and upgraded to a national park in 2018
  • 24 villages were relocated from the core area in the early 2000s during preparations for Asiatic lion translocation
  • The park also supports populations of leopards, hyenas, wolves, and various prey species including chital, sambar, nilgai, and chinkara

Connection to this news: Kuno has now produced eight litters of cheetah cubs since 2023, validating the habitat assessment that identified the park as suitable for sustaining a viable cheetah population through natural breeding.

IUCN Red List and Species Conservation Status

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. It classifies species into categories ranging from Least Concern to Extinct, guiding conservation priorities globally.

  • The African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated global population of approximately 6,500-7,100 adults
  • The Asiatic cheetah (A. j. venaticus) is classified as Critically Endangered, with fewer than 50 individuals surviving only in Iran
  • India's reintroduction uses the Southeast African subspecies (A. j. jubatus) rather than the Asiatic subspecies, as Iran declined to share its critically endangered population
  • The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) framework governs the international transfer of cheetahs between countries

Connection to this news: The translocation of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa to India was facilitated through CITES agreements and bilateral MoUs, and the growing population of 35 cheetahs at Kuno contributes to the global conservation effort for this Vulnerable species.

Key Facts & Data

  • Five cubs born to Aasha on February 7, 2026; India's total cheetah population now 35
  • Indian-born surviving cubs: 24 (across 8 successful litters)
  • Project Cheetah launched on September 17, 2022, with 8 cheetahs from Namibia
  • Second batch: 12 cheetahs from South Africa (February 2023); third batch of 8 from Botswana scheduled for February 28, 2026
  • Cheetah declared extinct in India in 1952; last recorded cheetah killed in 1947
  • Kuno National Park: 748 sq km total area (487 sq km core), Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh
  • African cheetah: Vulnerable (IUCN); estimated 6,500-7,100 adults globally
  • Asiatic cheetah: Critically Endangered (IUCN); fewer than 50 individuals, only in Iran