‘Photo’ of vet posing over sedated cheetah in Kuno sparks row; misleading, say authorities

Bhopal: An image circulating on social media showing a wildlife veterinarian allegedly posing over a rescued cheetah in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park triggered controversy, with wildlife activists raising concerns and park authorities issuing a clarification that the photograph may be misleading or morphed. The image, which surfaced online earlier this week, appeared to show a member of a veterinary rescue team lying or posing over a sedated cheetah during a field operation. The photograph drew criticism from wildlife enthusiasts and conservation watchers, who questioned whether proper protocols were followed while handling the animal. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey submitted a complaint to forest authorities seeking an inquiry into the incident. In his representation, Dubey alleged that the image suggested inappropriate behaviour during a wildlife rescue operation and called for strict adherence to protocols laid down for handling wild animals, particularly under Project Cheetah, which is being closely monitored at the national and international level. Responding to the controversy, forest department officials associated with Kuno National Park said the photograph being circulated online might not accurately reflect the actual situation and could have been edited or misinterpreted. Officials said the image appeared to have been taken during a field operation involving veterinary teams handling a tranquillised cheetah, a standard procedure used for health examination, monitoring, or relocation of animals under the cheetah conservation programme. A senior forest department official said that during such operations, veterinarians and rescue personnel often need to physically restrain or stabilise a sedated animal to ensure its safety and prevent injury. "The photograph circulating on social media appears misleading and may even be morphed. The image does not necessarily represent the full context of the operation," the official said, adding that the department would verify the authenticity of the image. Authorities also said that strict veterinary and wildlife handling protocols are followed during cheetah monitoring and rescue operations, which involve sedation, health assessment and sometimes transportation of animals. Officials added that the cheetah involved in the operation was being attended to by a trained veterinary team and that no harm was caused to the animal during the procedure. Forest department officials said they were examining the matter and would take appropriate action if any violation of protocol is found. Insiders said this pic was uploaded by a cheetah tracker on his social media post and later deleted.