Officials in India's Kuno National Park are launching an inquiry following a viral video depicting a forest worker giving water to a cheetah and her cubs, a breach of regulations concerning the management of big cats in the sanctuary.
Cheetah Water Incident Sparks Inquiry into Forest Worker in India
Cheetah Water Incident Sparks Inquiry into Forest Worker in India
Authorities act after viral video shows violation of safety protocols at Kuno National Park.
The Kuno National Park's management has initiated disciplinary action against a driver who was filmed providing water to a cheetah and her cubs, a move deemed illegal as per existing guidelines limiting close interactions with the animals. The video, which gained traction online, showed the man pouring water into a metal pan after being encouraged by unnamed individuals. Shortly thereafter, a cheetah named Jwala and her four cubs approached to drink.
Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952, marking the first large mammal to disappear post-independence, and were reintroduced to Kuno in 2022 as a part of a significant conservation effort. The forest’s monitoring team is generally tasked with luring the cats back into the forest from the park’s boundaries to prevent human-wildlife conflicts, with strict protocols regarding interaction.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Uttam Kumar Sharma emphasized that only trained personnel are authorized to approach the animals and carry out specific interventions. While media reports initially described the video as "heartwarming," concerns about safety for both the cheetahs and local villagers have been raised, with suggestions that authorities should consider establishing permanent water sources in the park instead.
Tensions have grown in villages bordering the park as the large felines have been venturing into fields and threatening livestock, leading to instances of residents reacting violently against the cats. A collaborative effort is underway to educate locals on cohabitating with the reintroduced predators.
The cheetah reintroduction initiative saw 20 big cats transported from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno between 2022 and 2023, marking the first attempt of its kind. However, eight of these cheetahs have died from various health complications, raising serious concerns about their living conditions. Experts involved in the project have expressed that improved animal monitoring and veterinary care could have mitigated some fatalities.
While park authorities counter the criticisms, they confirm that the current population stands at 26 cheetahs, with 17 in the wild and another nine in enclosures. This year, India plans to receive an additional 20 cheetahs from South Africa, with preparations already being made for their identification and relocation.
Follow RealTime Wire for the latest updates on this evolving situation.
Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952, marking the first large mammal to disappear post-independence, and were reintroduced to Kuno in 2022 as a part of a significant conservation effort. The forest’s monitoring team is generally tasked with luring the cats back into the forest from the park’s boundaries to prevent human-wildlife conflicts, with strict protocols regarding interaction.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Uttam Kumar Sharma emphasized that only trained personnel are authorized to approach the animals and carry out specific interventions. While media reports initially described the video as "heartwarming," concerns about safety for both the cheetahs and local villagers have been raised, with suggestions that authorities should consider establishing permanent water sources in the park instead.
Tensions have grown in villages bordering the park as the large felines have been venturing into fields and threatening livestock, leading to instances of residents reacting violently against the cats. A collaborative effort is underway to educate locals on cohabitating with the reintroduced predators.
The cheetah reintroduction initiative saw 20 big cats transported from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno between 2022 and 2023, marking the first attempt of its kind. However, eight of these cheetahs have died from various health complications, raising serious concerns about their living conditions. Experts involved in the project have expressed that improved animal monitoring and veterinary care could have mitigated some fatalities.
While park authorities counter the criticisms, they confirm that the current population stands at 26 cheetahs, with 17 in the wild and another nine in enclosures. This year, India plans to receive an additional 20 cheetahs from South Africa, with preparations already being made for their identification and relocation.
Follow RealTime Wire for the latest updates on this evolving situation.
