Agni, one of the two cheetahs released into the wild earlier this month in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, has strayed outside the reserve and is reportedly moving toward Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary. Officials confirmed the development on Monday.
Agni was last spotted near a polytechnic college in Sheopur district, around 25 km from the park, on Sunday afternoon. Passersby captured footage of the animal on mobile phones. Authorities have reassured the public about Agni’s safety. “We are monitoring the cheetah round-the-clock, but cannot disclose its current location for safety reasons,” said Uttam Kumar Sharma, field director of Kuno National Park.
Experts believe Agni may have ventured out of the park’s core area while exploring new territory. Agni and Vayu were released into the wild on December 6 after spending almost a year in large enclosures.
The park currently houses 24 cheetahs, including 12 cubs, as part of an ambitious reintroduction project. The initiative began in September 2022 with the arrival of eight cheetahs from Namibia, followed by 12 more from South Africa six months later. While some cheetahs have died, others have thrived, with successful breeding observed. The remaining cheetahs will be released into the wild in a phased manner.
