MP’s Forest Department is going through a new challenge of securing cheetah in Kuno National Park as tiger T-136 of Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan has entered. The tiger had strayed out in Dhaulpur jungle and then travelled to Sheopur via Chambal. Senior forest officials have contacted forest officials of Ranthambore to take back the tiger. Officials of Ranthambore said that tiger has formed a territory in Kuno as he liked the habitat. The tiger travelled 220 km from Ranthambore to Dhaulpur and then 160 km from Dhaulpur to Kuno. Officials said that Tiger T-136 left Ranthambore and travelled 220 km to reach Dhaulpur. Then he took rest for a day and next day he travelled for 160 km to reach Kuno.

Mohammed Meraj, Field Biologist Ranthambore said, cheetah is smaller in size and shape than tiger. He said carnivores generally remain competitor to each other and they never tolerate other cat to kill prey in their territory. In such a situation they fight to win the territory. Tigers can easily kill cheetah in fight as cheetahs are smaller in size. Cheetah is weakest cat in five cat species. Cheetah cannot climb upon a tree. Presence of tiger in Kuno is risky for cheetah’s life.

Tiger T-80 (known as Tufan) is active near Kailadevi Karoli Sanctuary. Probably the tiger had a fight with T-136 due to which tiger left the area. The tiger reached Dhaulpur because T-80 did not let him stay in the area. Tiger T-80 has territory along with cubs. DFO Prakash Verma, Kuno said, “We have contacted forest team of Ranthambore to take back the tiger. All efforts will be made to secure the cheetah.”