Bhopal: A cheetah from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district strayed into neighboring Rajasthan and was rescued on Saturday in "challenging circumstances", including a ravine and a heavy crowd of spectators, a forest department official said. .
A release from the office of the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) and Director Lion Project said Pawan, the male cheetah, was rescued from Karoli district in the western state in challenging conditions.
"The animal had to be physically handled to prevent it from falling over the ravine amid the huge crowd of spectators and the animal reached the summit of the ravine after running. After successful rescue, the animal is being shifted to KNP and He will be released into the wild,” the release said.
"Pawan was free in KNP and crossed the interstate border amidst human dominated landscape on Saturday morning. Keeping in mind the safety of animals and people, it was decided to rescue Pawan," it said.
It said police and forest personnel from Rajasthan provided assistance in the operation.
As part of the ambitious cheetah reintroduction project, eight Namibian cheetahs, including five females and three males, were released into KNP enclosures on 17 September in 2022. In February 2023, another 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa.
There are currently 27 cheetahs in KNP, including 14 cubs that were born on Indian soil.
A release from the office of the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) and Director Lion Project said Pawan, the male cheetah, was rescued from Karoli district in the western state in challenging conditions.
"The animal had to be physically handled to prevent it from falling over the ravine amid the huge crowd of spectators and the animal reached the summit of the ravine after running. After successful rescue, the animal is being shifted to KNP and He will be released into the wild,” the release said.
"Pawan was free in KNP and crossed the interstate border amidst human dominated landscape on Saturday morning. Keeping in mind the safety of animals and people, it was decided to rescue Pawan," it said.
It said police and forest personnel from Rajasthan provided assistance in the operation.
As part of the ambitious cheetah reintroduction project, eight Namibian cheetahs, including five females and three males, were released into KNP enclosures on 17 September in 2022. In February 2023, another 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa.
There are currently 27 cheetahs in KNP, including 14 cubs that were born on Indian soil.
