BHOPAL: A drink — that’s all it took for a heartwarming shift in dynamics between villagers who live around Kuno National Park and the cheetahs that call it home.
After a tense confrontation less than two weeks ago, when villagers pelted stones at cheetah Jwala and its four cubs, a video has emerged of a villager offering them water in a plate soon after they had hunted down and feasted on half a dozen goats in the same village.
The video shows the cheetah family lying in the shade of a tree while the villager approaches them gingerly with a jerrycan of water, which he pours into a plate just a heartbeat away from them. Some villagers, in an attempt to communicate, can be heard saying “come, come,” mistakenly assuming the cheetahs might understand English.
One of the cheetahs perks up on hearing the sound of gurgling water. They all get to their feet, calmly lap up the water, and wait for more.
This extraordinary moment was captured on video and shared widely. But the villager’s ice-breaking act wasn’t taken too warmly by forest officers.
He turned out to be Satyanarayan Gurjar, a driver attached with the forest department. After the video went viral, senior Kuno Forest Division officers visited the spot and removed Gurjar from his position. He has since been suspended, say sources.
Forest officers had previously advised villagers to stay away from the cheetahs and refrain from feeding them.
‘Need to learn to coexist with cheetahs, let’s not domesticate them’
If they get too close, the cheetahs might start coming too close to human habitations. There is no need for them to develop a bond with wildlife,” said a forest officer.
This development comes amid unconfirmed allegations of attacks by cheetahs on a kid and a farmer. A few days ago, villagers pelted stones at cheetah cubs that were trying to attack a calf. However, this time, the scene was different. The female cheetah, Jwala, along with her four cubs, had ventured into a village field away from Kuno, where they hunted and killed around six goats. While this incident could have easily led to fear and hostility, it instead unfolded into an unexpected act of kindness.
The action against Gurjar has sparked resentment among locals, according to sources.
“The recent act of offering water symbolizes a growing understanding and shift in behaviour. The villagers, perhaps realizing that the cheetahs were not inherently a threat but part of the region’s natural ecosystem, chose to approach the situation differently this time. But again, we would not want them to get this close and develop any bond like this,” said a forest officer.
Kuno National Park’s tracking team, which had been monitoring the cheetah herd, was also present at the scene. After receiving reports of the cheetahs roaming outside the park, the team conducted an inspection and advised the villagers to exercise caution, ensuring safety while allowing the cheetahs to settle.
The cheetahs, led by Jwala, have become more active outside the park in recent days, hunting and exploring the open forests. The villagers’ actions demonstrate an evolving relationship with the animals, one that may pave the way for more peaceful coexistence in the future.
“Cheetahs are not inclined to attack humans. They are different from leopards and tigers in that regard. This video clip is important for showing their more mellow natural disposition. It is exciting to see people living near the cheetahs accepting their presence and reacting in nonviolent ways,” said Susan Yannetti, director of strategy and fundraising for The Metapopulation Initiative.
“We don’t want people trying to domesticate them and keep them as pets. We just want people not to stone them or blame them for attacks. The lesson to be learned is that people and cheetahs can coexist,” she added. TNN