UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Environment Minister Announces Birth of Three Cheetah Cubs at Kuno National Park
Q1. With reference to Project Cheetah, which one of the following is regarded as the world's first wild-to-wild inter-continental translocation of a large carnivore?
- A. The release of eight Namibian cheetahs at Kuno National Park in September 2022
- B. The translocation of twelve South African cheetahs to Kuno in February 2023
- C. The arrival of nine cheetahs from Botswana at Kuno in February 2026
- D. The proposed shifting of Asiatic lions from Gir to Kuno National Park
Q2. Counting only the two founder translocations of 2022 and 2023, how many cheetahs in total were brought to Kuno National Park from Namibia and South Africa?
Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the African and Asiatic cheetahs:
1. The cheetah introduced at Kuno belongs to the subspecies Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, whereas the cheetah historically native to India was Acinonyx jubatus venaticus.
2. The Asiatic cheetah subspecies survives in the wild only in Iran.
3. The species Acinonyx jubatus is globally assessed by the IUCN in a higher extinction-risk category than its Asiatic subspecies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The cheetah introduced at Kuno belongs to the subspecies Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, whereas the cheetah historically native to India was Acinonyx jubatus venaticus.
- The Asiatic cheetah subspecies survives in the wild only in Iran.
- The species Acinonyx jubatus is globally assessed by the IUCN in a higher extinction-risk category than its Asiatic subspecies.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Why is the bringing of African cheetahs to Kuno technically described by conservation biologists as an 'introduction' rather than a 're-introduction' of the species?
- A. Because the subspecies brought in (A. j. jubatus) is not the subspecies (A. j. venaticus) that was historically native to and became extinct in India
- B. Because the cheetahs were captive-bred rather than captured from the wild
- C. Because the animals were released outside their former Indian range at Kuno
- D. Because India had never before hosted any cheetah population at any time
Q5. In the context of the release protocol used for cheetahs at Kuno National Park, the term 'boma' refers to which one of the following?
- A. A fenced soft-release/quarantine enclosure in which cheetahs are held and acclimatised before free-ranging release
- B. A radio-collar frequency band assigned to individual cheetahs for tracking
- C. A grassland patch artificially seeded to augment the prey base
- D. A veterinary immobilisation drug used during translocation
Q6. With reference to Kuno National Park, consider the following:
1. It is located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
2. It was originally identified as a site for the reintroduction of the Asiatic lion.
3. It lies within the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary landscape of Rajasthan.
4. The Kuno river, a tributary of the Chambal, flows through its landscape.
Which of the above are correctly identified?
- It is located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
- It was originally identified as a site for the reintroduction of the Asiatic lion.
- It lies within the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary landscape of Rajasthan.
- The Kuno river, a tributary of the Chambal, flows through its landscape.
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 1 and 3
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q7. Under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the listing of the cheetah in Schedule I signifies which one of the following?
- A. The species receives absolute protection with the most stringent penalties for offences against it
- B. The species is classified as vermin that may be hunted with prior permission
- C. The species is a game animal that may be hunted under a regulated licensing quota
- D. The species is protected only within notified national parks and sanctuaries
Q8. Which one of the following is the nodal body responsible for implementing Project Cheetah in India?
- A. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- B. Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
- C. Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
- D. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
Q9. The Memorandum of Understanding that enabled the very first translocation of cheetahs to India was concluded with which country and in which year?
- A. Namibia, in 2022
- B. South Africa, in 2022
- C. South Africa, in 2023
- D. Botswana, in 2026
Q10. Consider the following statements about recent cheetah births and arrivals at Kuno National Park:
1. Gamini, a South African-origin cheetah, gave birth to three cubs in February 2026, taking Kuno's total cheetah count to 38.
2. A subsequent litter of five cubs at Kuno was born to Jwala, a Namibian-origin cheetah.
3. Following the arrival of nine cheetahs from Namibia in February 2026, India's total cheetah population rose to 53.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Gamini, a South African-origin cheetah, gave birth to three cubs in February 2026, taking Kuno's total cheetah count to 38.
- A subsequent litter of five cubs at Kuno was born to Jwala, a Namibian-origin cheetah.
- Following the arrival of nine cheetahs from Namibia in February 2026, India's total cheetah population rose to 53.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. Comparing Project Cheetah with other Indian species-recovery efforts, consider the following statements:
1. Unlike Project Cheetah, which is an inter-continental introduction, the proposed second home for the Asiatic lion at Barda involves translocation within India.
2. The gharial, focus of a long-running conservation-breeding programme centred on the National Chambal Sanctuary, is assessed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered.
3. The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centres established for vulture recovery are located exclusively within Madhya Pradesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike Project Cheetah, which is an inter-continental introduction, the proposed second home for the Asiatic lion at Barda involves translocation within India.
- The gharial, focus of a long-running conservation-breeding programme centred on the National Chambal Sanctuary, is assessed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered.
- The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centres established for vulture recovery are located exclusively within Madhya Pradesh.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. Among the following felids associated with India, which one is currently placed in the IUCN Red List category indicating the highest extinction risk?
- A. Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus)
- B. Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris)
- C. Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica)
- D. Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)