In a shocking incident, a cheetah tracking team in Madhya Pradesh became the target of a violent attack by villagers who mistakenly believed them to be a gang of dacoits. The unfortunate incident occurred in Burakheda village within the Sheopur division on Thursday night, leaving four members of the team injured and currently recovering in a local hospital. The forest officials reported that the team had been searching for Asha, one of the Namibian cheetahs brought to India in September 2022.
According to the Sheopur divisional forest officer (DFO), Prakash Verma, the six-member tracking team had reached the village of Burakheda late in the night, guided by a GPS tracker on Asha. However, due to a case of mistaken identity, the villagers assumed them to be dacoits and cattle thieves. In an attempt to scare away the perceived intruders, the villagers fired shots at the team. Despite being unaware of the villagers’ hostility, the team continued their tracking operation, leading to a direct attack.
Forest officials further disclosed that the villagers managed to apprehend and assault four members of the team, while also pelting stones at them. The team members, dressed in khaki dungarees, which are often associated with dacoits, faced damage to their vehicles as well. However, the injuries sustained by the forest department employees are reported to be non-life-threatening, with the affected individuals currently admitted to a community health center in Pohri.
In response to the incident, the police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to assault and deterrence of public servants from discharging their duties. The FIR has been lodged against 12 unidentified individuals involved in the attack.
Expressing concern over the incident, an anonymous forest guard emphasized that despite the state government’s claims of raising awareness about the cheetah project, such attacks continue to occur within a 20-kilometer radius. The forest team made efforts to identify themselves but were unsuccessful in diffusing the situation. The guard stressed the urgent need for the state government to intensify its awareness campaign and ensure the safety and security of tracking teams operating in the area.
The incident has drawn attention to the challenges faced by conservationists and wildlife officials as they work towards reintroducing cheetahs into the Indian ecosystem. It highlights the necessity of fostering better communication and understanding between local communities and tracking teams to prevent such tragic misunderstandings from occurring in the future.
As the injured team members recover, it is hoped that the authorities will take immediate action to enhance awareness programs and implement robust safety measures for tracking teams, thereby ensuring the smooth execution of wildlife conservation efforts in Madhya Pradesh.
The cheetah tracking team attack serves as a reminder of the importance of community engagement and education in protecting and preserving our natural heritage. Only through collaborative efforts can we achieve a harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.
