New Delhi: A female Cheetah 'Gamini' gave birth to five cubs in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, increasing the total count of big cats in the country to 26, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said in a social media post.

Taking to X, the Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change said, "High Five, Kuno! Female cheetah Gamini, aged about 5 years, brought from Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa, has given birth to 5 cubs today."

The minister emphasized that the current count of cheetah cubs born in India has reached 13.

Further, Yadav noted that this is the fourth litter of cheetahs in India and the first litter born from cheetahs brought from South Africa.

Highlighting previous milestones, Yadav recalled that in March of the previous year, cheetah Jwala (also known as Siyaya in Namibian) birthed four cubs, with only one surviving.

Jwala then had her second litter of four cubs in January of this year, followed by cheetah Aasha giving birth to three cubs.

"Congratulations to all, especially the team of forest officers, vets, and field staff who have ensured a stress-free environment for cheetahs, which has led to successful mating and birth of the cubs. The total number of cheetahs, including cubs in Kuno National Park, is 26. Gamini's legacy leaps forward: Introducing her adorable cubs," the Union Minister wrote on X.

Gamini is part of the cohort of cheetahs brought to India from South Africa as part of the ambitious cheetah reintroduction project, which commenced in 2022.

The project involved releasing eight Namibian cheetahs into enclosures at Kuno National Park. Subsequently, in February 2023, an additional 12 cheetahs were introduced to the park from South Africa.

Since March of the previous year, 10 cheetahs, including three cubs born to Jwala, have passed away.

At present, officials say that the 26 cheetahs in Kuno National Park consist of seven females, six males, and 13 cubs.