Bhopal: A radio-collared male cheetah was found injured in a forest area in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district and rescued by the forest department following concerns over its deteriorating condition. The animal is currently undergoing treatment, while a team of the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) and a dog squad have been deployed to investigate the incident and rule out the possibility of poaching.

The cheetah was spotted by the monitoring team on October 25 after it was observed moving less than usual. Forest officials were alerted when the animal remained at the same spot, following which a rescue operation was launched. The cheetah was subsequently taken for medical treatment.

Confirming the incident, Samita Rajora, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) (Wildlife), said the monitoring team had alerted the Field Director of Kuno National Park about the animal's condition.

“On October 25, the monitoring committee, reported to the Field Director, Kuno National.Park, that the cheetah looked a little tired. Since they monitor it and are stationed nearby, so they said it hadn't been moving as much since morning. They thought that if it eats too much, it generally gets tired.

“So, in the evening, when it didn't move from the spot, they raised an alarm call, and the FD and others went in. They rescued it in the early morning. So, now it’s under treatment."

The circumstances leading to the cheetah sustaining injuries and the nature of the injuries are yet to be ascertained. The animal has an injury on its back and is being kept stable while medical examinations are conducted.

“All those things will take time to determine what happened and the source of the injury, because there is an injury on its back that needs to be looked into. So, they are keeping the animal stable,” said Rajora.

Poaching angle under investigation

The incident has raised concerns over the possibility of poaching, with wildlife activist Ajay Dubey alleging on social media that the injury could be linked to suspected poaching activity in the region. However, the cause of the cheetah's injuries has not yet been established.

“FD Cheetah Project & DFO Kuno FAILED to protect Cheetah! MP CWLW now sends special team to Kuno, Sheopur after poacher attack - Cheetah critical. I flagged radio-collared leopard poaching, demanded action - kuno park failed. My fear came true, now cheetah attacked. Accountability must be fixed (SIC),” Dubey said in a post on his Instagram handle.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi English, Dubey said the cheetah was found in the Bamori area of Morena and referred to an earlier case involving suspected leopard poaching in the region.

“The cheetah was found in the Bamori area of Morena. Earlier, in July, a gang was caught in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, that had poached leopards in MP's Sheorpur and Kuno area. It was doubted that they might have attacked cheetahs. I had flagged the concern with the forest department but nothing happened. There is zero accountability in this Cheetah Project,” Dubey told Mathrubhumi English.

STSF, dog squad deployed

The forest department has deployed an STSF team to investigate the incident and examine the possibility of any poaching-related activity. The concerned Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) has also been sent to the spot.

“Since it's a very serious landscape, I have taken all the precautions. Since this morning, I have dispatched the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) and the concerned DFO there. They are on the spot to check if there could be any other incident, to eliminate any doubt.”

“This is an area where people have spoiled their habits. So, I am very tensed about this. I have sent a team to check. If a person is caught, this time they will see another side of us.

“To eliminate any other possibility, until the X-ray and other results come out, I have already sent the team. Otherwise, the smell and all these things will be lost. So, I have also sent the dog squad and everything possible for field investigation and forensic examination. Let's see.”