Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav tweeted this picture on the birth of two Cheetahs at Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, on February 4, 2025
| Photo Credit: ANI

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is set to release five cheetahs into the wild at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district on Wednesday (February 5, 2025), a day after cheetah Veera gave birth to two cubs, a senior official said.

Speaking to The Hindu, the official, who requested anonymity, said, “The Chief Minister will release five cheetahs into the open forest tomorrow (Wednesday).”

Earlier, on December 4, 2024, two male cheetahs — Vayu and Agni — were released into the wild, more than two years after eight cheetahs were brought to KNP from Namibia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2022, as part of the cheetah reintroduction project.

With the Wednesday’s release, a total of seven cheetahs will roam freely into the KNP. 

Two cubs born

Two cubs were born to cheetah Veera at KNP, bringing the total number of cheetahs in the State to 26, Mr. Yadav announced on Tuesday.

Sharing a picture of the two new-born cubs on X, Mr. Yadav congratulated the officials, veterinarians and field staff associated with the Cheetah Project and said that as a result of their efforts, Madhya Pradesh is now known as ‘land of cheetahs’.

“I am very happy to share this information, that the number of cheetahs is constantly increasing in Madhya Pradesh. Today, female cheetah Veera has given birth to 2 cubs, cheetah cubs are welcome on the land of Madhya Pradesh and I send my hearty congratulations to the people of the state on the arrival of these cubs,” Mr. Yadav wrote. 

Mr. Yadav also highlighted the boost in tourism brought about by the growing cheetah population.

“With the ever-increasing population of cheetahs in the State, tourism in the State is getting a new boost, which is opening new doors for employment. We are always ready for the conservation, promotion and restoration of all wildlife along with cheetahs,” he said.