India has welcomed the birth of four cheetah cubs – more than 70 years after the animals were declared officially extinct there. India’s environment minister announced the good news, calling it a “momentous event”. The country has been trying to reintroduce the big cats for decades, and last year brought eight cheetahs over from Namibia as part of the plan. Another 12 cheetahs were brought to India from South Africa last month. The four cubs were born in Kuno National Park wildlife sanctuary to one of the females that came from Namibia last September. Announcing the news on Twitter, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said he was “delighted”. “I congratulate the entire team of Project Cheetah for their relentless efforts in bringing back cheetahs to India and for their efforts in correcting an ecological wrong done in the past,” he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also welcomed the “wonderful news”. The cubs were believed to have been born five days ago, but they were spotted by officials on Wednesday, the Press Trust of India reported.(BBC)…[+]