A video surfaced showcasing the cubs engaging in playful activities and feeding alongside their mother, Siyaya, now known as Jwala.
Experts from the Cheetah Conservation Funds (CCF) have stated that the initial three months are crucial for cub survival, particularly in Africa where mortality rates are high. However, the cubs in India are residing in a fenced area with their mother, eliminating this concern. Moreover, a veterinary team is readily available in case any issues arise. At around six weeks old, the cubs start following their mother, accompanying her in the search for prey and learning essential life skills.
During their playtime, the cubs develop their motor skills, coordination, and gain insights into their own speed and agility. The experts are confident that all four cubs are expected to thrive due to the absence of natural predators in their enclosure and the daily monitoring by a team of researchers. In the event of a cub sustaining an injury while playing or learning to hunt, veterinarians are standing by. These advantages are not available to cubs born in the African wild.
Between six to eight weeks, the cubs possess a fluffy mantle of hair on their backs, providing camouflage by resembling the aggressive ratel, also known as the honey badger. Siyaya/Jwala tends to stay close to her den during this time, with her hunting range shrinking to just two or three kilometres. After making a kill, she calls her cubs and encourages them to join her.
When they reach eight weeks old, the cubs will begin consuming their mother’s kills, although Siyaya/Jwala will continue nursing them for a few more weeks. Typically, the mother and cubs are active during the cooler early morning and late afternoon hours.
Siyaya, a female cheetah from Namibia, gave birth to the four cubs on March 24 after a gestation period of 93 days. At birth, the cubs likely weighed between 8.5 to 15 ounces. Siyaya has been single-handedly caring for them, making her the pioneering mother of India’s emerging cheetah population. In the Zulu language, Siyaya means “moving forward.”
Cheetahs typically have four cubs per litter, although occasionally they may have up to six. Rare reports of litters with seven or eight cubs exist. These new cubs are poised to become symbolic figures representing India’s conservation achievements while inspiring the reintroduction of wild species worldwide.