Another Milestone for Kuno as Cheetah Nirva, Three Cubs Enter Wild

BHOPAL/The cheetah reintroduction project at Kuno National Park achieved another milestone with female cheetah Nirva and her three 13-month-old cubs being successfully released into the wild, officials said on Monday.

The four cheetahs — two male cubs and one female cub accompanying Nirva — were released in the Ahera tourism zone of the Palpur East Range on Saturday as part of the ongoing effort to establish a self-sustaining cheetah population in the national park.

According to the Forest Department, the release is expected to strengthen the cheetah population and contribute to the development of a stable ecosystem in the area. The move is also likely to boost eco-tourism activities by providing visitors and wildlife enthusiasts with greater opportunities to observe cheetahs in their natural habitat.

Officials said the animals are being continuously monitored following their release. Advanced radio-telemetry systems and dedicated field teams have been deployed to track their movement, ensure their safety and assess their adaptation to the wild.

With the release of Nirva and her cubs, the number of free-ranging cheetahs in Kuno has increased to 20. Forest officials said all the cheetahs currently roaming in the wild are healthy, active and showing positive adaptation to the natural habitat.

The cheetah reintroduction programme at Kuno is regarded as a landmark wildlife conservation initiative aimed at restoring the species in India and strengthening biodiversity conservation efforts. Authorities said continuous monitoring, protection and scientific management of the animals remain central to ensuring the long-term success of the project.