With three more cheetah cubs been born at the Kuno Palpur National Park in Madhya Pradesh, the site for India’s ongoing Cheetah reintroduction plan, bringing much needed cheer to the project.

As a week ago, Asha, one of the cheetahs translocated from Namibia, gave birth to three cubs at the predator-proof enclosure. The cubs were discovered on January 3.

Beyond the numbers, there is a deeper message in the births that have conservationists watching the development keenly. This is the first time cheetah cubs have been born in India corresponding with the more conducive winter months.

And it's nothing less than historic! 🐆

Last March, cheetah Siyaya had given birth to four cubs at Kuno. The joy was shortlived as three died of starvation in June, induced by extreme heat conditions prevailing in the region.

In Namibia and South Africa, both in the Southern Hemisphere, cheetahs give birth at the onset of winter when prey base and water are abundant, thereby increasing the cubs’ chances of survival. While Siyaya did give birth in Marcha ”corresponding with the month cheetahs usually breed in Africa, the weather conditions in India were reverse; it was the onset of summer. Asha’s litter has taken birth in winter, which is severe in Kuno but less life-threatening than the extreme summer heat, as reported by IndiaToday.

Technically, female cheetahs can enter the estrus cycle anytime of the year. But over centuries, cheetahs have adapted themselves to breed in winter everywhere.

While several factors, such as protection measures, veterinary response in case of diseases and constant monitoring, will continue to play a crucial role in ensuring the survival of the newly born cheetah cubs, weather will be the least of the problems.

Hopefully, with this a hope has begun, and India's Project Cheetah will be nothing but just a major success, and many Cheetah's will be born in India! 🇮🇳🐆