Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Following a recent incident where villagers pelted stones at five cheetahs, the Sheopur district administration has stepped in to ensure better security for the cheetahs roaming in the wild.
Sheopur Collector Arpit Verma has directed officials to launch a cheetah awareness campaign in villages surrounding Kuno National Park. He has instructed authorities to activate all 161 forest committees and hold meetings with the sarpanches and secretaries of all 55 villages.
He emphasized that villagers must be educated about the historic cheetah project. Advisory boards will be installed in villages to inform people about the dos and don’ts when they spot a cheetah. Additionally, villagers will be made aware that compensation is provided if a cheetah kills any cattle. The awareness campaign will also be extended to villages located in general forest divisions.
If villagers spot a cheetah in their area, they should avoid gathering in large numbers and instead allow the animal a safe passage. District Forest Officer R. Thirukural informed that a control room has been set up to monitor cheetah movements. The control room will function round the clock, and villagers can report any cheetah sightings to the designated staff.
