JAIPUR: In a rare and dramatic wildlife episode, a female cheetah named Jawala from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was successfully rescued on Tuesday morning after wandering nearly 130 km into Rajasthan’s Karauli district.
Jawala was captured safely from Karira village, with the combined efforts of the Madhya Pradesh forest department and the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) team. The rescue operation prevented a potential human-wildlife conflict, as the cheetah was found inside a goat enclosure.
The Journey: From Kuno to Karauli
According to officials, Jawala was last spotted on Sunday in the Manpur area of Sheopur district in MP, accompanied by a cub. However, she was later seen separated from her cub and made her way to Baler village in Rajasthan, crossing the Chambal riverbank.
On Tuesday around 6 am, villagers in Baler were startled to find the cheetah inside a livestock shed and immediately alerted local forest authorities.
First Attempt at Rescue Fails
Forest ranger Naresh Godara and his team from RTR’s Baler range responded swiftly but were unable to tranquilize the cheetah due to her agitated and aggressive behavior. Realizing the complexity of the situation, RTR officials reached out to Kuno National Park authorities.
Swift Action by Kuno Team
A team from Kuno arrived around 10 am, initiated the operation by 11 am, and successfully captured Jawala within 15 minutes. She was safely sedated and transported back to Kuno National Park without any harm to humans or the animal.
Officials confirmed that Jawala is fitted with a radio collar, which helped track her movements during the entire journey.
Officials Speak Out
A forest officer involved in the operation noted:
“The cheetah’s movement was closely monitored to avoid any panic or conflict in the village. The coordinated response between MP and Rajasthan teams ensured her safe return.”
Concerns Over Separation from Cub
While Jawala was captured, her cub remains unaccounted for, raising concerns among wildlife officials. Kuno authorities are expected to conduct search operations in the Manpur region to locate and reunite the cub with its mother, if possible.
A Reminder of Wildlife Corridors and Coordination
This incident underscores the importance of wildlife corridors and inter-state coordination in India’s growing wildlife management efforts—especially in the wake of the Cheetah Reintroduction Programme, under which cheetahs from Africa were reintroduced into Indian habitats.
