Madhya Pradesh farmer chases away cheetah as both learn to coexist

BHOPAL: An elderly farmer in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district chased away a cheetah that strayed close to his farmland and buffaloes, preventing a possible attack. Foresters say the incident reflects how both cheetahs and locals in the Kuno landscape are gradually learning to coexist.The incident took place around 4pm on Saturday in Madanpura village under Ater gram panchayat, where farmers were busy collecting harvested wheat. According to locals, a cheetah from Kuno National Park entered the fields and moved towards grazing buffaloes.As panic spread, an elderly farmer stepped forward, shouting loudly and running towards the animal to drive it away. Despite family members urging him to stop, the farmer continued to chase the cheetah until it retreated from the area. Villagers said the big cat appeared to be targeting livestock, and the farmer's quick action helped prevent any loss. A video of the incident is now viral on the net.Forest officers said such encounters are now being handled more calmly on the ground. "People are learning how to respond. In most cases, raising an alarm is enough and the animal moves away," an officer said.This marks a contrast to earlier incidents. In 2025, in Sheopur district, villagers reacted aggressively when a female cheetah, Jwala, and her cubs targeted a calf outside Kuno. A crowd gathered and pelted the felines with stones and used sticks to drive them away, forcing them to abandon the hunt and flee. Forest teams intervened to control the situation.Foresters said awareness efforts since then have helped reduce such reactions. "There is a better understanding now. Both people and cheetahs are adjusting to each other's presence," an officer said.In the first week of March, Kuno National Park welcomed five new cubs after Namibian cheetah, Jwala, a proven mother in the programme, delivered her third litter. The birth has pushed the country's cheetah population to 53, taking the reintroduction effort past the half-century mark for the first time.