Ranthambore tiger enters Kuno National Park area:Tourists spot big cat in MP, officials assess potential threat to relocated cheetahs inside park

A tiger that strayed from Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve around three to four months ago has now been spotted inside Kuno National Park, home to India’s reintroduced cheetahs, triggering fresh concerns over their safety. Tiger identified as RBT-2512 Forest officials have identified the tiger as RBT-2512, a sub-adult male and a cub of Ranthambore tigress T-107 (Sultana). The tiger is estimated to be 2.5 to 3 years old and is believed to have left Ranthambore in search of its own territory. While the presence of a tiger in Kuno had been suspected for months, this marks the first confirmed sighting by tourists. Sighted during Safari near Tiktoli gate On Thursday morning, tourists on a flying cat safari near Tiktoli Gate spotted the tiger sitting inside the forest. After noticing the safari vehicle, the tiger briefly walked away and soon disappeared into dense vegetation. Young tigers moving towards Madhya Pradesh Wildlife experts say Ranthambore’s growing tiger population has led to young tigers dispersing in search of new territories. In recent years, several sub-adult tigers have crossed over into Madhya Pradesh’s forest landscapes, including the Kuno region. Why the Tiger’s presence is a concern Experts warn that a tiger’s presence in Kuno could pose a serious threat to cheetahs. Compared to tigers, cheetahs are smaller and weaker predators, and tigers are known to aggressively defend their territories, often eliminating other carnivores. The situation could complicate conservation efforts under India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction project. Not the first Ranthambore Tiger in Kuno RBT-2512 is not the first tiger to reach Kuno from Ranthambore. Earlier, tiger T-38 stayed in Kuno for a prolonged period before returning between 2020 and 2021. Other tigers, including T-72, T-47 (Monu), T-132, and T-136, have also ventured into the region in the past. Chambal river acts as natural corridor The Chambal River, flowing along the Rajasthan–Madhya Pradesh border, serves as a natural forest corridor enabling wildlife movement between Ranthambore and Kuno. Tigers have used this route to reach Kuno, while cheetahs have also been spotted moving toward the Ranthambore landscape. The Centre is now working to formally develop this stretch as a ‘Cheetah Corridor’ to facilitate safer wildlife movement while minimizing conflict. Forest authorities continue to monitor the tiger’s movement closely amid rising concerns over cheetah protection in Kuno National Park.