NEW DELHI: Two cubs born to cheetah Neerva at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, Sheopur, were found dead on Wednesday, with their mutilated carcasses recovered by forest officials.
Earlier on Monday Neerva gave birth to four cubs which was hailed as a significant milestone in the Cheetah Reintroduction Project.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav had celebrated the event as a major achievement, both for the state and the nation.
In a post on X, Yadav congratulated the forest department, stating, “Today, the Cheetah Project has achieved a major milestone. In our ‘Cheetah State’ Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, female cheetah Neerva has given birth to cubs. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the forest workers involved in the conservation of the Cheetah Project.”
Forest officials revealed that the cubs were found after a team monitoring Neerva’s movements detected that she had strayed away from her den. Upon inspection, the team found the mutilated remains of the cubs. “After checking all possible locations inside the boma, no further cubs were found,” the official stated. The cause of death remains unclear, as the carcasses of the cubs were sent for forensic analysis.
Confusion had earlier surrounded the number of cubs Neerva had given birth to, as Chief Minister Yadav initially announced that four cubs had been born but later deleted the post, awaiting confirmation from the forest department.
Neerva herself remains in good health, and all other adult cheetahs and 12 surviving cubs are reported to be in healthy condition. The investigation into the cubs’ deaths is ongoing, with the forest department waiting for lab results to determine the exact cause of their demise.
The birth of the cubs marked a significant moment in India’s Cheetah Reintroduction Project, which began in 2022. Cheetahs, once extinct in India, were brought from Namibia and South Africa under the project. Despite facing challenges, including the deaths of eight adult cheetahs, the project has seen breeding success, with 17 cubs born and 12 surviving. This brings the current cheetah population in Kuno National Park to 24, signaling progress in restoring the species to India.
(With inputs from agencies)