Latest news with #ProjectCheetah
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
8-year-old Namibian female cheetah dies from injuries at Kuno
An eight-year-old Namibian female cheetah named Nabha died at Kuno National Park on Saturday, a week after sustaining severe injuries likely during a hunting attempt inside its soft release enclosure. 'Nabha got badly injured a week back, probably during a hunting attempt inside her soft release boma. She had fractures in both the ulna and fibula on the left side, along with other injuries. Despite a week-long treatment, she succumbed to her injuries today,' said Uttam Sharma, the field director of the Cheetah Project. Nabha was one of the cheetahs translocated from Namibia under Project Cheetah, the Government of India's flagship reintroduction initiative. The cheetahs were brought to Kuno in two phases — the first batch from Namibia in September 2022 and the second from South Africa in February 2023. With Nabha's death, the cheetah population at Kuno now stands at 26, including nine adult cheetahs (six females and three males) and 17 cubs born in India. Officials said all the remaining cheetahs, including the two males kept at Gandhisagar, are in good health. 'Currently, 16 cheetahs are living in the wild at Kuno and have adapted well to their new habitat. They have learned to coexist with co-predators and are regularly hunting,' Sharma said, adding that a recent round of anti-parasitic treatment for all cheetahs has been completed successfully. Two female cheetahs, Veera and Nirva, have also recently given birth and are reported to be doing well along with their cubs. A post-mortem report is awaited to determine the exact cause of Nabha's death.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Glimpses from Kuno! Video shows Cheetahs Agni and Vayu after hunting; cubs resting
— byadavbjp (@byadavbjp) Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Union minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday shared two videos on X, highlighting the progress of cheetah conservation efforts at Kuno National Park in Madhya one of the clips, two adult male cheetahs, Agni and Vayu, can be seen leisurely roaming the grasslands after a successful hunt -- relaxed and well-fed. These cheetahs, originally translocated from South Africa in February 2023, were released into the open forest across the Kuno River in December 2024, coinciding with International Cheetah their release into the Palpur East region, the two spent over a year in protective second video features the male cubs of cheetah Aasha, resting calmly in the wild after their own hunt—another milestone in the ambitious Project Cheetah . Born in December 2023, the cubs are now just over a year old. Their father, Pawan (also known as Oban), was one of the first cheetahs introduced to Kuno but sadly died in August release of Aasha's cubs into the open forest is being seen as a positive step toward rewilding and sustaining the cheetah population in Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav had earlier welcomed the move, saying it not only strengthens the state's wildlife population but also adds momentum to tourism in the region.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Glimpses from Kuno! Video shows Cheetahs Agni and Vayu after hunting; cubs resting
. Union minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday shared two videos on X, highlighting the progress of cheetah conservation efforts at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. In one of the clips, two adult male cheetahs, Agni and Vayu, can be seen leisurely roaming the grasslands after a successful hunt -- relaxed and well-fed. These cheetahs, originally translocated from South Africa in February 2023, were released into the open forest across the Kuno River in December 2024, coinciding with International Cheetah Day. — byadavbjp (@byadavbjp) Before their release into the Palpur East region, the two spent over a year in protective enclosures. The second video features the male cubs of cheetah Aasha, resting calmly in the wild after their own hunt—another milestone in the ambitious Project Cheetah. Born in December 2023, the cubs are now just over a year old. Their father, Pawan (also known as Oban), was one of the first cheetahs introduced to Kuno but sadly died in August 2023. The release of Aasha's cubs into the open forest is being seen as a positive step toward rewilding and sustaining the cheetah population in India. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav had earlier welcomed the move, saying it not only strengthens the state's wildlife population but also adds momentum to tourism in the region.
NDTV
2 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Watch: Cheetahs Chill After Hunt, Cubs Steal The Show In Kuno National Park
India's ambitious "Project Cheetah" continues to show promising signs of success as Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, recently shared two beautiful videos of the magnificent felines thriving in the grasslands of Kuno National Park. These latest videos offer a powerful glimpse of the ongoing efforts to reintroduce cheetahs into the country after their extinction over 70 years ago. In a recent post, Minister Yadav shared a video of male cheetahs Agni and Vayu, showing their hunting prowess and enjoying a well-deserved full meal in their natural habitat. Both Agni and Vayu, released into the wild on December 4, 2024, are part of the adult cheetahs that have been gradually introduced to Kuno National Park over the past year and a half. Glimpses from Kuno! 📹1: Cheetahs Agni and Vayu after hunting and enjoying a full meal in the grassland of Kuno National Park. 📹2: 18-month-old male cubs of Cheetah Aasha have formed a coalition; resting after a hunt and meal in the wilderness of Kuno. — Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) July 11, 2025 Adding to the excitement, the minister also shared another heartwarming video featuring 18-month-old male cubs of cheetah Aasha. These young cheetahs have formed a coalition and were seen relaxing in the wild, a crucial indicator of successful social integration and adaptation within the park. "Project Cheetah", a monumental conservation initiative, officially began on September 17, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the inaugural batch of eight cheetahs, translocated from Namibia, into Kuno National Park. This was followed by the arrival of a second group of 12 cheetahs from South Africa on February 18, 2023, significantly bolstering the park's cheetah population. According to a statement by the government of India, the translocation of 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park has been successful, with the animals adapting well and exhibiting natural behaviours like hunting and mating. Notably, a female Namibian cheetah, Aasha, gave birth to three cubs on Indian soil after a 75-year absence. The project has also engaged local communities through 'Cheetah Mitras', promoting coexistence and providing employment opportunities, fostering a positive impact on the region.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
'Cheetahs are happy, have adapted well to new home': PM Modi thanks Namibia for help in Cheetah reintroduction in India
Windhoek [Namibia], July 9 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Parliament of Namibia, thanked the country for its gift of Cheetahs, which have helped in the reintroduction of Cheetahs in India. PM Modi made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing the Joint session of the Namibian Parliament. He said. 'India and Namibia have a powerful story of cooperation, conservation and compassion, when you helped us in reintroducing Cheetahs in our country. We are deeply grateful for your gift. I had the privilege of releasing them in the Kuno National Park. They have sent a message for you: inimaa aaishe oyilii naavaa Everything is fine.' PM Modi highlighted that the Cheetahs are happy and have adapted well in their new home. 'They are happy and have adapted well in their new home. They have grown in numbers as well. Clearly, they are enjoying their time in India,' said PM Modi. The Cheetah Project Steering Committee was set up in May 2023 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to review, monitor, and advise on the cheetah reintroduction program. Project Cheetah began in 2022 with the translocation of 8 cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa to Kuno National Park. As of now, there are 26 cheetahs at Kuno, of which 17 are in the wild and 9 are still inside large enclosures. Cheetahs are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. They are protected under Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. They are also included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), offering the highest level of protection from international trade. From the echelons of the Namibian Parliament, PM Modi said, 'I pay tribute to the first President and founding father of Namibia, President Sam Nujoma who passed away earlier this year. He once said, and I quote-- 'Our achievement of independence imposes upon us a heavy responsibility, not only to defend our hard-won liberty, but also, to set ourselves higher standards of equality, justice and opportunity for all, without regard to race, creed or colour.' Highlighting President Sam Nujoma's vision of a just and free nation, PM Modi also mentioned the heroes of the Namibian freedom struggle - Hosea Kutako, Hendrik Witbooi, and Mandume Ya Ndemufayo. 'The people of India stood proudly with Namibia during your liberation struggle. Even before our own Independence, India raised the issue of South West Africa at the United Nations', he said. PM Modi further added, 'We supported SWAPO in your quest for freedom. In fact, New Delhi hosted its first-ever diplomatic office abroad. And, it was an Indian, Lieutenant General Diwan Prem Chand, who led the UN peacekeeping force in Namibia.' PM said that India is proud to have stood with Namibia, not just in words but in actions too. Highlighting how both countries share strings of similarities, PM Modi said, 'We both fought colonial rule. We both value dignity and freedom. Our Constitutions guide us to uphold equality, liberty, and justice. We are part of the Global South, and our people share the same hopes and dreams.' He expressed gratitude upon receiving Namibia's highest civilian award as a symbol of the friendship between the peoples of our countries. PM said, 'Like the tough, and elegant plants of Namibia, our friendship has stood the test of time. It quietly thrives in even the driest seasons. And, just like your national plant Welwitschia Mirabilis, it only grows stronger with age and time. On behalf of 1.4 billion people of India, I once again thank the President, the Government and the people of Namibia for this honour.' PM Modi received a resounding standing ovation for his remarks to the Namibian parliament. PM Modi had arrived in Namibia after concluding his two-day State visit to Brazil, where he attended the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro and held bilateral talks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia. Namibia was the final stop in the Prime Minister's five-nation tour, which also included visits to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and Brazil. (ANI)
