Sheopur (Madhya Pradesh): A recent case of wildlife breaching human habitat came to light in MP's Sheopur, where a cheetah family was sighted taking a stroll in a village near Kuno National Park.
It is said that female cheetah Jwala along with her three cubs was spotted on Monday morning near Sikheda village of Veerpur area.
The incident was reported after they preyed on a cow in the area to satiate hunger. Later on, the cheetahs were seen crossing a culvert, which triggered panic among residents.
Officials alarmed the locals and urged them to stay indoors and remain vigilant. Many villagers formed watch groups and kept a torch-lit vigil to protect their cattle.
According to the villagers, cheetahs have come near the village earlier also, but this time their number is more. The forest department has appealed to the villagers not to pay attention to rumours. The department has said that cheetahs do not attack humans. Villagers have been asked to immediately inform the department about any activity.
According to the villagers, cheetahs ventured out in the human settlement earlier as well but this is the first time such a large number of cheetahs has been seen this close to human habitat.
Not the first incident
This is not the first time cheetahs have strayed out of the park. On March 23, a group of five cheetahs — including Jwala and her cubs — were seen outside Kuno, near Shyampur village in Veerpur tehsil. That encounter turned tense when villagers attacked the animals with sticks and stones, despite forest officials urging them to keep a safe distance.
Earlier, the cheetahs strayed out of the jungles into the village for a stroll on March 23, including Jwala and her cubs. The encounter didn't turn out well when the villagers pelted stones on the animal. The forest officials, this time prompted people to avoid any such confrontation and assured that they are harmless for humans.
