Sheopur/Bhopal, September 3, 2026

A difficult search through rain-soaked forests, riverbeds and village landscapes ended successfully on Wednesday when Kuno National Park teams rescued South African female cheetah Nirva from Shivpuri district. Wildlife veterinarians replaced her malfunctioning tracking collar and found her healthy.

The operation began after Nirva became separated from her cubs on August 20. The satellite component of her collar had stopped functioning. Its radio transmitter was working, but could be detected only from a limited distance. Five teams comprising more than 50 forest officers, experienced trackers and frontline personnel were deployed. They searched forest patches, agricultural fields, riverbanks and areas around villages despite heavy rain and poor visibility.

The breakthrough came after villagers reported the movement of a cheetah near their settlement. The teams rushed to the area and began scanning for radio signals. Once within range, they detected Nirva’s radio transmitter and confirmed her identity. She was safely immobilised under veterinary supervision, examined and fitted with a new collar. Satellite monitoring was restored soon after.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Dr Sameeta Rajora credited the successful operation to the coordinated efforts of officers, veterinarians, trackers, frontline staff and local residents. Every input received from villagers was followed up and verified. The drones and camera-based surveillance were also used to scan possible locations. However, the final breakthrough came through local information, quick field action and close-range radio tracking.

The rescue offered a clear picture of the intensive monitoring system developed under Project Cheetah. It also showed why technology must be backed by field experience, veterinary support and community participation. The monsoon makes the task particularly difficult. Heavy rain can weaken satellite connectivity, wash away pugmarks and reduce visibility. Swollen streams and muddy tracks also slow the movement of field teams.

Veterinary intervention under such conditions requires careful planning. An immobilised cheetah must be protected from rain while its breathing, body temperature and other health parameters are continuously monitored. The examination and collar replacement must also be completed without causing avoidable stress.

Nirva’s rescue demonstrated the value of having several layers of monitoring. Her satellite location was unavailable, but the radio transmitter continued to work. Ground searches and information from villagers helped the teams move close enough to detect its signal.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Dr Rajora. Kuno Field Director Uttam Kumar Sharma, Divisional Forest Officer Thirukural R., wildlife veterinarians, trackers and frontline forest personnel formed part of the wider effort.

Their responsibilities go far beyond locating cheetahs. The teams conduct health checks, respond to emergencies and monitor mothers with cubs. They also track animals moving outside the park, sometimes covering hundreds of kilometres across Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring Rajasthan.

According to an earlier Kuno newsletter, 49 cheetahs are being managed in and around the national park. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across Mandsaur and Neemuch districts, has another three. Madhya Pradesh is thus managing 52 cheetahs across the two landscapes. Of the 49 cheetahs in the Kuno landscape, 30 have satellite collars and require regular monitoring. Twenty cheetahs are free-ranging across a large area covering parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Others are being managed in large enclosures providing semi-wild conditions.

The task of field personnel has become more challenging following reports of organised poaching in the wider Kuno landscape. An inter-state racket allegedly killed 10 leopards between October 2025 and June 2026. Six were reportedly poached in the Kuno Wildlife Division. Eleven suspects were arrested following coordinated operations in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Forest teams recovered leopard skins, bones and other body parts during the investigation.

An earlier investigation had also linked the killing of three tigers to a poaching syndicate operating along the Kuno-Madhav-Ranthambore corridor. Wildlife remains were recovered during raids in Sheopur, Shivpuri and nearby areas. Investigators described it as an organised network extending across state borders. Some cases have allegedly involved individuals from forest-fringe and nomadic communities familiar with the terrain.

The poaching threat adds another layer to the responsibilities of frontline staff. Apart from monitoring cheetahs, they must protect prey animals, maintain surveillance and prevent criminal networks from using the forest terrain for illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking.

Nirva’s successful rescue showed how Kuno’s field network responds when regular monitoring is disrupted during the difficult monsoon season. It brought together modern tracking systems, veterinary care, field experience and timely information from villagers. Visitors may see the cheetah as the face of Kuno. Its survival in the wild, however, depends on the round-the-clock efforts of forest officers, veterinarians, trackers, frontline staff and local communities.