Namibian cheetah Aasha gives birth to 3 cubs in Kuno; ‘indicator that animals are acclimatising’

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

In the news:

Aasha, a Namibian cheetah at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, has given birth to three cubs.
Aasha, known for her confident nature, arrived at the park in September 2022 and has adapted well, travelling over 200 km in the wild. Suspected to be pregnant after interaction with a male cheetah, Aasha has faced challenges in the past, including an encounter with villagers.
The government is hailing it as a success for Project Cheetah. Wildlife officials see the cubs’ birth as a positive sign, indicating the cheetahs’ acclimatization to the Indian habitat, and expressing confidence in their survival.
However, concerns arise regarding the birth occurring in an enclosure rather than in the wild, limiting exposure to natural pressures and potential learning experiences. The birth marks a significant milestone amid the relocation of 20 cheetahs to Kuno National Park from Namibia and South Africa, despite six deaths since March 2023.

About Cheetah:

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran.
It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at 80 to 128 km/h.
There are four recorded subspecies of Cheetahs.
The cheetah is threatened by several factors such as habitat loss, conflict with humans, poaching and high susceptibility to diseases.

African Cheetah	Asiatic Cheetah
IUCN status: They are vulnerable under the IUCN Red List. Distribution: Around 6,500-7,000 African cheetahs present in the wild. Characteristics: They are bigger in size as compared to Asiatic Cheetah.	IUCN status: The Asiatic cheetah is classified as a “critically endangered” species by the IUCN Red List. Status in India: The Asiatic Cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. Distribution: They are only 40-50 and found only in Iran. Characteristics: Smaller and paler than the African cheetah.