Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
India’s Kuno National Park Investigates Forest Worker for Approaching Cheetahs
Kuno National Park in India has initiated disciplinary proceedings against a forest employee after a video went viral showing the individual offering water to a cheetah and her cubs. The incident has raised concerns about protocol adherence within the wildlife sanctuary, particularly regarding interactions with the reintroduced big cats.
Driver Breaches Protocol at Cheetah Reserve
Park officials, speaking to the PTI news agency, confirmed that the worker in question, a driver at the sanctuary, violated established directives. These guidelines stipulate that only authorized personnel are permitted to approach the cheetahs, ensuring both animal and human safety.
Cheetah Reintroduction Program in India
The presence of cheetahs in Kuno National Park is part of a significant wildlife conservation project. Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952, a somber marker as the only large mammal to vanish from the country since its independence. In an ambitious effort to reverse this loss, a reintroduction program was launched in 2022 at Kuno, aiming to re-establish a wild cheetah population.
Details of the Watering Incident
The event unfolded on Sunday when footage of the worker providing water to the cheetah family began circulating online. The video depicts the man pouring water into a metal pan, seemingly encouraged by voices off-camera. Shortly after, Jwala, a female cheetah, and her four cubs are seen approaching the pan to drink.
Park Authority Explains Protocol and Context
According to park authorities, it is not unusual for designated staff to offer water to big cats if they venture close to the national park boundary. This practice serves as a strategy to encourage the animals to return to the protected forest area.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Uttam Kumar Sharma, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, clarified to PTI that the mother cheetah and her cubs were near the park’s periphery. “The monitoring teams are generally instructed to attempt to divert or lure the cheetahs back inside whenever such situations arise, so as to mitigate potential human-cheetah conflict,” he stated.
Violation of Established Guidelines
However, officials emphasized that such interventions are strictly limited to trained and authorized personnel. The driver’s actions were deemed a breach of protocol. Mr. Sharma reiterated, “Clear instructions are in place to maintain distance from cheetahs. Only authorized individuals are permitted in close proximity to perform specific duties.”
Reactions to the Video: Public and Expert Opinions
While initial media reports described the video as “heartwarming,” it triggered diverse reactions, particularly on social media platforms. Many online users expressed concerns about safety protocols for both the public and the animals in such encounters. Some commentators suggested that a more sustainable approach would involve developing water sources, such as ponds and water bodies, within the park. This would ensure the cheetahs have access to water without needing to approach populated areas, especially during peak summer temperatures.
Human-Wildlife Interface and Mitigation Efforts
The fringes of the national park have experienced tensions as cheetahs occasionally roam into adjacent agricultural lands, leading to instances of livestock predation. A report in The New Indian Express detailed an incident where villagers resorted to throwing stones at cheetahs to prevent attacks. Officials report ongoing initiatives to educate communities living near the park, aiming to foster coexistence with the reintroduced animals.
Intercontinental Cheetah Translocation to Kuno
Between 2022 and 2023, Kuno National Park played a central role in an unprecedented intercontinental translocation effort. Twenty cheetahs were relocated from South Africa and Namibia to the park, marking a historic step in global species recovery.
Concerns Over Cheetah Mortalities
Despite the initial success of the reintroduction, concerns have emerged following the deaths of eight cheetahs. The causes of death have been varied, including kidney issues and injuries from mating, prompting questions about the long-term viability of the habitat at Kuno.
Expert Feedback and Park Management Response
In 2023, experts from South Africa and Namibia involved in the cheetah project communicated with India’s Supreme Court, suggesting that enhanced monitoring and more timely veterinary care could have prevented some of the fatalities.
The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), based in Namibia and a partner in the project, also voiced concerns to the BBC regarding record-keeping practices at Kuno. They raised questions about the level of scientific training among park management and the experience of the veterinary team in managing a project of this scale.
Park Authorities Rebut Allegations
Park authorities have refuted these claims, asserting that the current cheetah count stands at 26. This number includes 17 cheetahs roaming freely in the wild and nine others currently in controlled enclosures.
Future Cheetah Arrivals Expected
Looking ahead, India is anticipating the arrival of 20 additional cheetahs from South Africa later this year. Officials indicate that a joint task force, including South African counterparts, has already identified the animals for this next phase of the translocation project.