Kuno National Park, where cheetahs were reintroduced to India after over 70 years of extinction, is facing scrutiny as officials have commenced disciplinary actions against a forest worker seen in a viral video offering water to a cheetah and her cubs. The worker, who serves as a driver at the sanctuary, violated strict regulations that limit proximity to the big cats to authorized personnel only.
The incident became visible online on Sunday, prompting officials to respond. The footage depicted the unnamed individual pouring water into a metal pan after being encouraged by unseen onlookers. Soon, a cheetah named Jwala and her four cubs approached the pan to drink.
While it is not uncommon for staff members to help lure big cats back into forest areas if they stray too close to human settlements, as confirmed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Uttam Kumar Sharma, such actions are supposed to be conducted exclusively by trained personnel. "The monitoring team is instructed to draw cheetahs back inside to avoid human-cheetah conflict," he articulated, emphasizing established protocols.
Although initial media reactions described the video as "heartwarming," multiple social media commentators expressed concern regarding the implications for both humans and the cheetahs. Suggestions emerged regarding creating more permanent water sources within the park, aiming to reduce cheetahs' ventures into agricultural fields nearby.
Recently, tensions in adjacent villages have escalated; livestock has become prey to wandering cheetahs, leading some villagers to resort to throwing stones at the animals in an attempt to protect their livelihood, as reported by The New Indian Express. The local authorities are actively promoting awareness and strategies for peaceful coexistence between villagers and wildlife.
Since the relocation of twenty cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno between 2022 and 2023, the management of these animals has faced scrutiny. Reports indicate that eight of the cheetahs have died due to various causes, including health complications and injuries sustained during mating. Concerns were raised by experts regarding the adequacy of monitoring and veterinary care for the relocated animals.
In a letter to India's Supreme Court, South African and Namibian experts involved in the translocation project pointed out that certain fatalities could have been avoided with improved animal monitoring and timely veterinary interventions. The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) expressed worries about inadequate management at the park and the inexperience of veterinary staff.
Despite these concerns, authorities maintain that there are currently 26 cheetahs in total at Kuno, with some in the wild and others in captivity. India's initiative to reintroduce cheetahs is set to continue, as plans are underway to bring in 20 additional cheetahs from South Africa later this year.
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The incident became visible online on Sunday, prompting officials to respond. The footage depicted the unnamed individual pouring water into a metal pan after being encouraged by unseen onlookers. Soon, a cheetah named Jwala and her four cubs approached the pan to drink.
While it is not uncommon for staff members to help lure big cats back into forest areas if they stray too close to human settlements, as confirmed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Uttam Kumar Sharma, such actions are supposed to be conducted exclusively by trained personnel. "The monitoring team is instructed to draw cheetahs back inside to avoid human-cheetah conflict," he articulated, emphasizing established protocols.
Although initial media reactions described the video as "heartwarming," multiple social media commentators expressed concern regarding the implications for both humans and the cheetahs. Suggestions emerged regarding creating more permanent water sources within the park, aiming to reduce cheetahs' ventures into agricultural fields nearby.
Recently, tensions in adjacent villages have escalated; livestock has become prey to wandering cheetahs, leading some villagers to resort to throwing stones at the animals in an attempt to protect their livelihood, as reported by The New Indian Express. The local authorities are actively promoting awareness and strategies for peaceful coexistence between villagers and wildlife.
Since the relocation of twenty cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno between 2022 and 2023, the management of these animals has faced scrutiny. Reports indicate that eight of the cheetahs have died due to various causes, including health complications and injuries sustained during mating. Concerns were raised by experts regarding the adequacy of monitoring and veterinary care for the relocated animals.
In a letter to India's Supreme Court, South African and Namibian experts involved in the translocation project pointed out that certain fatalities could have been avoided with improved animal monitoring and timely veterinary interventions. The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) expressed worries about inadequate management at the park and the inexperience of veterinary staff.
Despite these concerns, authorities maintain that there are currently 26 cheetahs in total at Kuno, with some in the wild and others in captivity. India's initiative to reintroduce cheetahs is set to continue, as plans are underway to bring in 20 additional cheetahs from South Africa later this year.
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X, and Facebook.
