Kuno Cheetah KGP-1 reaches Bhitarwar fields again:Monitoring teams remain alert after viral videos surfaced from Kerua village area

Cheetah KGP-1, which strayed out of Kuno National Park, has once again been spotted in the Gwalior region of Madhya Pradesh. The animal was recently seen moving through the hills of Devgarh village in Bhitarwar before reaching agricultural fields near Kerua village. Villagers recorded videos of the cheetah, which later went viral on social media. The footage also shows the Forest Department’s monitoring team following the animal from a distance. Cheetah roaming across multiple areas for 45 days According to officials, KGP-1 has been roaming across different regions for nearly 45 days. After leaving Kuno National Park, the cheetah reportedly moved through Aron, Simaria, Tigra Dam, forest areas in Morena and the Ghatigaon region. Due to its constantly shifting movement, teams from the Forest Department and Kuno National Park remain on high alert. Search for water and safe movement corridors On April 15, the cheetah’s location was tracked in the Lakhanpura forest area near Tigra Dam. Officials believed the animal had moved there in search of water and a safe wildlife corridor. Later, on April 20, its presence was recorded in agricultural fields near Uakheda village in the Ghatigaon region. On April 30, villagers again spotted the cheetah resting in fields. Initially, the sightings created fear and panic among residents, but later many villagers began recording videos on their mobile phones. Officials said the cheetah appeared calm in the videos and did not display any aggressive behaviour. Tracking collar helping forest teams monitor movement Forest Department officials said KGP-1 is fitted with a tracking collar, allowing teams to continuously monitor its movement and location. So far, the cheetah has not attacked any villager or livestock, providing relief to nearby communities. Wildlife experts believe the cheetah is not behaving aggressively in populated areas because forests around Ghatigaon and nearby regions have sufficient prey availability. They said the animal is likely moving through different areas in search of open forests, water sources and safe movement corridors. Advisory issued for villagers The Forest Department has issued advisories in nearby villages, urging people to remain alert. Residents have been advised not to venture alone into forests or fields, avoid approaching the cheetah and refrain from surrounding it to click photos or record videos.