Kuno National Park: Cheetah Jwala & Cubs Cross Swollen River, Stun Officials With Adaptability Skills

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The 16 cheetahs including cubs moving in open range of Kuno National Park in Sheopur district are showing adaptability skills. They have endured heavy rains and surprised officials, specially when Jwala and her four cubs swam through the flooded river.

According to Kuno National Park field director Uttam Kumar Sharma, notion exists that cheetahs avoid entering deep water bodies but Jwala and her four cubs swam across the swollen river. This shows that cheetahs are getting gradually adapted to the changed conditions.

“In this monsoon season, Sheopur experienced heavy rains. Rains were so heavy that we could hardly imagine that Jawala and her cubs would swim across the river but they did,” Sharma told Free Press. “Cheetah faced no major problem while moving in open range,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kuno officials have learnt to save cheetahs from diseases. The regular medication has helped in protecting them from skin diseases. In the first year, some cheetahs had developed skin diseases due to humid and moist conditions.

They had ticks and when they rubbed, it caused wounds. Now, there is no such health problem due to their regular medication.

Hopes raised

The manner in which cheetahs endured summer and heavy rains have raised hopes. They are hunting in jungles. In winter season, two cheetahs may be shifted to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, which has two cheetahs Prabhas and Pavak, which were relocated from Kuno National Park in April.