First India-born cheetah set to reach adulthood in Kuno National Park

Mukhi is a female cub of the Kuno National Park, and she is the first India-born cheetah to make it to adulthood. This is a milestone in the conservation of wildlife. She was born in March 2023 to a Namibian cheetah and has already lived through difficult circumstances and the death of her siblings. Her birth is a major milestone for the Project Cheetah, which is to reintroduce the species, which were extinct in India in the 1950s. The existence of Mukhi creates a new hope of creating a stable and self-sufficient population of cheetahs in the country. Her success underscores the role of conservation, and it represents the development in India towards preserving endangered species.

Why it Matters for India Kuno National Park

India has made a significant step through the cheetah reintroduction program, whereby Mukhi, one of the female cubs born in Kuno National Park, is the first India-born cheetah to attain the adult stage. Mukhi, the offspring of Namibian cheetah Jwala, born in March 2023, survived excessive heat and loss of her siblings, which attests to the success of Project Cheetah. This program, which began in 2022 with the release of African cheetahs, is based on the restoration of the species that became extinct in India in the 1950s. Having 27 cheetahs currently in the country, of which 16 were born in the country, the survival of Mukhi brings fresh hope of establishing the existence of a sustainable population in India.

Highlights of India’s Tiger Reserve 

• Project Tiger Launch: They started in 1973 by the Government of India in order to preserve the Bengal tigers.

• Present Tiger Population: 3,167 tigers according to the recent 2022 census, which made it the highest in the world.

• Largest Tiger Reserve: Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh (~3,728 sq km).

• Minimum size Tiger reserve Bor in Maharashtra (in Maharashtra) (~138 sq km).

• Largest Tiger Reserve: Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, in the Eastern Himalayas, which rises to 4,571 meters.

• Total Reserves: 54 in 18 states.

• World: 75 percent of the world's wild tiger population is found in India.

• Significance: Conserves biodiversity, habitats, and encourages eco-tourism.

Conclusion 

The tiger reserves of India are the ecosystem constituents that help in protecting the Bengal tiger and other abundant ecosystems. Project Tiger, which was initiated in 1973, has today expanded to 54 reserves in 18 states, and India today is the home of 3,167 tigers, or almost three-quarters of the world's wild tiger population. The Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam reserve in Andhra Pradesh is the largest, and the smallest reserve is Bor in Maharashtra. Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh is the highest altitude reserve. Another national park, Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, set up in 1981, has been the focus of the cheetah reintroduction project. These conserved sanctuaries in particular showcase the leadership of India in conserving wildlife and biodiversity in the world.