UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Five cubs born to Namibian cheetah at Kuno National Park
Q1. Which one of the following is the subspecies of cheetah translocated from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park under Project Cheetah, including the mother of the five cubs born in February 2026?
- A. Acinonyx jubatus venaticus
- B. Acinonyx jubatus jubatus
- C. Acinonyx jubatus hecki
- D. Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii
Q2. Project Cheetah, under which the Namibian cheetah Aasha delivered five cubs at Kuno National Park in February 2026, is implemented in India by which one of the following as the sole nodal agency?
- A. Wildlife Institute of India
- B. Central Zoo Authority
- C. National Tiger Conservation Authority
- D. National Board for Wildlife
Q3. Which one of the following is the primary reintroduction site of Project Cheetah where Aasha gave birth to five cubs in February 2026?
- A. Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary
- B. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve
- C. Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary
- D. Kuno National Park
Q4. With reference to Project Cheetah, consider the following African countries from which cheetahs have been translocated to Kuno National Park as of early 2026 (when Aasha's five cubs were born):
1. Namibia
2. South Africa
3. Botswana
4. Kenya
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a source country?
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Botswana
- Kenya
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q5. With reference to the two litters of five cubs each born at Kuno National Park in 2026, consider the following statements:
1. Aasha's litter of February 2026 was the eighth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil, while Jwala's litter of March 2026 was the tenth.
2. With Jwala's March 2026 litter, the count of Indian-born surviving cubs rose to 33 and India's total cheetah population crossed the half-century mark, whereas after Aasha's February 2026 litter the total population stood at 35.
3. Aasha was a first-time mother at the time of the February 2026 birth, whereas Jwala became a third-time mother with the March 2026 birth.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Aasha's litter of February 2026 was the eighth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil, while Jwala's litter of March 2026 was the tenth.
- With Jwala's March 2026 litter, the count of Indian-born surviving cubs rose to 33 and India's total cheetah population crossed the half-century mark, whereas after Aasha's February 2026 litter the total population stood at 35.
- Aasha was a first-time mother at the time of the February 2026 birth, whereas Jwala became a third-time mother with the March 2026 birth.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3