Bhopal: Tiger spotted in Kuno National Park has become the latest wildlife headline from Madhya Pradesh, India. For years, Kuno National Park in Sheopur district has gained global attention for Project Cheetah, aiming to restore the cheetah population in its natural habitat. However, on 6 February 2026, tourists on safari at the park’s Tiktoli Gate region captured the first-ever tiger sighting in Kuno, marking a historic moment for the park’s biodiversity and conservation efforts.
Kuno National Park: Background and Conservation Importance
Kuno National Park, located in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, was declared a national park in 2018 after years of being a wildlife sanctuary. It covers around 748 sq. km of dry deciduous forest and grasslands, historically home to diverse fauna including leopards, deer, wolves, hyenas, and wild herbivores.
The park is also the centrepiece of Project Cheetah, one of India’s most ambitious conservation initiatives, involving the translocation of African cheetahs to restore a species that became extinct in India in 1948. Cheetahs were reintroduced beginning in 2022 from Namibia and South Africa, making Kuno their new home after decades.
Tiger spotted in Kuno National Park at Tiktoli Gate
On Thursday morning, tourists participating in a private safari at Kuno’s Tiktoli Gate area witnessed a rare and surprising event. They encountered a tiger in the wild, a sight never before documented by visitors in this 750+ sq. km park. The moment was captured on video as the tiger briefly emerged near the safari track and disappeared deep into the forest.
Forest officials believe this tiger may be T-132, a big cat originally from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, which is known to travel outside its core home range. Earlier, tiger pugmarks and movement signs had been recorded in Kuno, but no direct sightings had been confirmed until now.
Importance of Tiger spotted in Kuno National Park in Wildlife Ecology
The presence of a tiger adds a new dimension to Kuno’s wildlife profile. Global definitions recognize six “big cat” species—lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, snow leopard, and cheetah. With the confirmed presence of leopards and cheetahs already, Kuno now boasts three of these big cat species coexisting in the same landscape.
Role in Predator Dynamics
Ecologists note that the presence of a tiger can influence the behaviour of other large carnivores and prey species. Historically, Kuno’s forest structure and prey base could support multiple top-level predators. With the return of the tiger, researchers and conservationists will be watching whether territorial behaviour or competition dynamics emerge, especially with cheetahs that prefer open grasslands.
Tourism and Local Reaction
Tourists present during the sighting expressed excitement and awe at seeing a tiger roam freely in Kuno’s forest. Videos shared on social platforms captured the majestic feline briefly moving across an open area before fading into dense foliage. This unique encounter has immediately drawn attention to Kuno as a destination not only for cheetah sightings but also for tigers—enhancing eco-tourism potential.
Read also: Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park Sees India’s Cheetah Population Rise to 30 Under Project Cheetah
