Madhya Pradesh: Villagers Thrash Forest Team Tracking Lost Cheetah After Mistaking Them For Dacoits; Probe On

A forest department squad tracking for a cheetah that sneaked out of the Kuno National Park was attacked by some local villagers in the early hours of Friday as they mistook them for dacoits, reported PTI.

The incident reportedly happened at nearly 4 am near Burakheda village when the team of Madhya Pradesh forest department were tracking cheetah Asha, which was flown in from Namibia in September 2021 and had sneaked out from the National Park a few days ago, said an official as quoted by the news agency PTI.

"The villagers fired into the air and then assaulted the team. Three staffers sustained injuries. The villagers thought the squad members were dacoits looking to steal cattle," KNP Divisional Forests Officer PK Verma said.

"A complaint was submitted at Pohri police station, he added.

Meanwhile, Pohri police station inspector Arvind Singh stated that they are making efforts to catch those who are involved in the attack on the forest squad.

Two-Month-Old Cub Died At MP's Kunao National Park

A cheetah's cub died at Kuno National Park, the officials said on Tuesday.

According to the Kuno forest officer, the number of young cubs in the park decreased from four to three. "The Forest department team is engaged in ascertaining the cause of death," he added.

A female cheetah named Jwala brought from Namibia at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district, has given birth to four cubs in March this year.

Notably, in the past few months, three cheetahs have already died at the National Park, raising fingers at the Kuno management and administration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia at Kuno National Park on the occasion of his birthday on September 17, last year.

The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952 but 8 cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) were brought from Africa's Namibia as part of 'Project Cheetah' and the government's efforts to revitalise and diversify the country's wildlife and habitat.

Later on, 12 more Cheetahs were brought from South Africa and rehabilitated to Kuno National Park on February 18.

(With inputs from agency)