Tiger From Ranthambore Reserve Enters Into MP's Kuno National Park, Official Says No Threat To Cheetahs

Officials said that the tiger who is around three years old entered into the protected forest from Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, which was about 100 kilometres away from Kuno National Park.

A tiger from Rajasthan has entered Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park and has been roaming all around for the last two to three days. Kuno National Park Director, Uttam Sharma, told news agency PTI, that tiger pugmarks were found inside the park around two to three days back. He added that there is no direct threat to cheetahs as they have been kept in soft enclosures or 'bomas'. Kuno National Park is known as the 'home of Cheetahs’. Cheetahs that are brought from Africa are kept in Kuno National Park in order to revive their population in India.

Officials said that the tiger who is around three years old entered into the protected forest from Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, which was about 100 kilometres away from Kuno National Park.

“Tigers' movements are traced in Kuno once in a while. A tiger has been wandering here for 2 days. But it is not yet clear whether the tiger belongs to Ranthambore National Park or somewhere else,” said Kuno DFO Thirukural R.

Keeping safety in mind, the Namibian and South African Cheetahs have been shifted to large enclosures of Kuno National Park.

The big cats such as leopards are also scared of tigers. Officials said that leopards are very watchful of tigers as they are afraid of them, as reported by PTI. They added that Kuno National Park has a high density of leopards. One of the reasons for them being afraid might be the difference in their weight. PTI cited officials as saying that the average weight of a male tiger animal is about 200 kg, while that of a male cheetah is between 55 and 60 kg. Weight plays a role in determining the strength that each of them would have in their paws during a fight.

Kuno National Park & The Reintroduction Of Cheetahs

The Kuno National Park is spread over an area of 748 sq km. It also has a buffer area of 487 sq km. The Indian government launched a cheetah reintroduction project under which eight Namibian cheetahs-- five females and three males, were released into enclosures at the park on September 17, 2022. In February 2023, 12 more cheetahs arrived at the Kuno National Park from South Africa. After that, four cubs were born in the park which raised the tally to 24, PTI reported.

Since March, nine cheetahs, including three cubs, died. According to officials, at present, 14 cheetahs and one cub are in healthy condition.

Cheetahs were declared extinct in India back in 1952.