NEW DELHI: One of the two cheetahs released into the Kuno National Park has ventured out and is heading towards Ranthambore in Rajasthan. Locals near Polytechnic College in Sheopur captured video footage of the cheetah crossing a road on Sunday morning, believed to be named Agni. Sheopur is located 360 km from Bhopal and just 20 km from the Rajasthan border. The cheetah has traveled approximately 50-60 km out of Kuno’s protected area and is currently about 70 km from Ranthambore.
The forest department is closely monitoring Agni’s movements as it establishes its territory outside Kuno National Park. Officials have decided not to tranquilize the animal and hope that it will safely return to Kuno on its own. Residents of Sheopur were excited to spot the cheetah and shared videos on social media, celebrating this rare sighting outside its protected habitat.
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Agni seems to be following the pattern of cheetah Pawan which is also known as Oban and previously roamed beyond Kuno’s boundaries, keeping forest officials on high alert. Pawan was tranquilized in April 2023 to prevent it from crossing into Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, the female cheetah Veera was rescued by foresters after wandering through the Jaura, Pahargarh, and Kailaras areas of Morena for 25 days in April of the same year.
Rajasthan’s forest officials have been alerted to Agni’s movements. Protocols set during a recent inter-state coordination meeting between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will now be activated to manage the wandering cheetah’s journey.
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The presence of the cheetah has brought excitement to Sheopur residents and they are thrilled to witness such a majestic creature in their vicinity. The forest department continues to monitor and manage the situation and ensure the safety of both the cheetah and local communities. This incident underscores the importance of ongoing conservation efforts and the need for collaborative management between states to protect and preserve wildlife.