BHOPAL: Exciting news is coming from Sheopur Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh—a female cheetah in the enclosure is pregnant! This announcement was made on the social media page of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, indicating that more good news may soon follow from the park. Notably, this marks the first update on the cheetah project from within the state, diverging from previous practices where such announcements were typically made by the central govt.
Kuno currently houses 24 cheetahs, including 12 cubs. Shifted from South Africa, Veera, who is nearly 5 years old and has spent considerable time with the male cheetah Pawan, is the most likely candidate for this exciting development. Uttam Sharma, Director of the Lion Project, stated that Veera is expected to deliver in the coming days.
This proactive communication approach follows earlier announcements about cub births made by Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav. In May, Veera strayed beyond the boundaries of Kuno, reaching Baghwala village in Gwalior via Jaura and Pahargarh in Morena. This was the first time she ventured so close to a city. While outside the park, she attacked a herd of goats, killing three in front of a shepherd. Wildlife officials monitored her movements closely and successfully rescued her back to Kuno National Park.
Both Veera and another cheetah, Pawan, have been known to wander outside the park; Pawan was recently returned from Karoli in Rajasthan. Earlier this year, in April, Veera was rescued after roaming in the Jaura, Pahargarh, and Kailaras areas of Morena. During her time outside, she hunted a Nilgai and preyed on approximately six goats.
Forest officials confirm that she is now safely returned to Kuno National Park, where her pregnancy brings renewed optimism for the cheetah population. As anticipation builds for the arrival of new cubs, this news marks a significant milestone for wildlife conservation efforts in Madhya Pradesh.