New Delhi. A three-year-old captive-reared cheetah Siyaya gave birth to four cubs five days ago in a soft predator-free enclosure in Kuno National Park, an official said on March 29.
JS Chauhan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) (Wildlife) said, “Siyaya was not visible for the past five days. Her location was showing at one place in the satellite collar. Namibian cheetah expert Eli Walker checked her today (March 29) by entering the enclosure and found four cubs,” the Hindustan Times reported.
The mother and cubs are looking healthy. “We will not interfere because it is a natural process. We will keep a vigil on Siyaya and cubs to protect them”, he added.
Terming it as a momentous event, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav credited the team of Project Cheetah.
“I am delighted to share that four cubs have been born to one of the cheetahs translocated to India on 17th September 2022, under the visionary leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji,” he tweeted.
The minister congratulated the entire team of Project Cheetah for their relentless efforts in bringing back the large carnivore to India and for their efforts in correcting an ecological wrong done in the past.
“The cheetahs mate only in a stress-free environment and the birth of four cubs proved that cheetahs are comfortable and adapted well here in Kuno National Park. They are themselves expanding the population of cheetahs,” said YV Jhala, former director and chief scientist of the cheetah project.
Siyaya was among the eight cheetahs that were translocated to India on September 17, 2022.
