After Cheetah Killing In MP’s Morena, Forest Department Plans Comprehensive Security Cover

After a 19-month-old cheetah was killed in Morena's territorial forest area, the Madhya Pradesh forest department is drafting a comprehensive security plan to safeguard the big cats venturing beyond protected regions. The initiative aims to bolster surveillance and protection measures across the entire cheetah landscape, especially in forests adjacent to human settlements.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Samita Rajora revealed that the department is developing a robust safety plan, incorporating stricter security, additional patrols, and advanced technology to enhance surveillance and protection. The cheetah landscape spans 15 districts, encompassing eight in Madhya Pradesh and seven in Rajasthan, including Gwalior, Shivpuri, Sheopur, Ashoknagar, Guna, and Rajgarh.

Field director Uttam Sharma emphasized the need for local communities to foster a sense of pride and ownership towards cheetahs, similar to Gujarat's reverence for Asiatic lions. He highlighted that cheetahs currently face two significant threats: struggling to survive independently in the wild and encountering human threats. With 13 cheetahs already roaming in open areas, 22 cubs will reach one year of age within the next four to five months, some of which are expected to migrate into the broader cheetah landscape.

The investigation into the recent cheetah killing is reportedly close to resolving, with the chief minister ordering swift action against the perpetrators. Three suspects have been questioned in the past two to three days. The presence of cattle camps in these forest areas poses another major challenge, as operators often carry illegal firearms, as evidenced by the use of an illegal firearm to kill the young cheetah in Morena.