A selfless act by an Indian forest worker has sparked scrutiny after a viral video showed him giving water to cheetahs in the Kuno National Park.
A forest worker at the Kuno National Park in India has been taken disciplinary action for violating park rules by offering water to a cheetah and her cubs in a recent viral video.
The incident occurred when the man, who is a driver at the sanctuary, poured water into a metal pan after being urged to do so by some people who weren’t seen in the video. The footage shows the man pouring water into the pan, followed by a cheetah named ‘Jwala‘ and her four cubs walking up to the pan and drinking from it.
The Cheetah is a big cat species native to Africa and Iran.
They are known for their speed, reaching up to 70 mph (113 km/h), making them the fastest land animal on Earth.
Cheetahs have a unique coat pattern with black spots on a yellow or golden background.
Adult cheetahs weigh between 80-140 pounds (36-64 kg) and have a short, flexible spine that allows for agility.
Their tail is long and fluffy, used as a balance aid during high-speed chases.
According to park officials, this is not an uncommon practice among staff members who get close to the boundary of the national park to lure in the cheetahs. However, only trained personnel are allowed to do so, and the man’s actions went against established protocol.
Located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, Kuno National Park is a protected area known for its diverse wildlife and natural habitats.
Spanning over 748 square kilometers, the park is home to several endangered species, including the Bengal tiger, leopard, and Asiatic lion.
The park's terrain features grasslands, forests, and wetlands, making it an ideal habitat for various flora and fauna.
Kuno National Park was established in 1981 and has been recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2009.
“The monitoring team has been instructed to try to deviate or lure the cheetahs back inside whenever such a situation arises,” said Uttam Kumar Sharma, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. ‘There are clear instructions to move away from cheetahs. Only authorised persons can go in close proximity to them to perform a specific task.’
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of people and animals, with some on social media suggesting that better options could be explored, such as creating ponds and water bodies within the park.
In 2022, cheetahs were reintroduced into India after being declared extinct in 1952. Twenty cheetahs were relocated from South Africa and Namibia to the Kuno national park between 2022 and 2023. However, eight of them have since died due to various reasons, including kidney failure and mating injuries.
Experts involved with the project have raised concerns about the conditions at Kuno, citing inadequate record-keeping and insufficient veterinary care. Park authorities have rejected these allegations, stating that there are now a total of 26 cheetahs in the park, including 17 in the wild and nine others in enclosures.
This year, India is expected to receive 20 more cheetahs from South Africa. The big cats have already been identified by a task force in collaboration with South African authorities.
