Sheopur (MP), Oct 25 Two cheetahs killed two calves in a cattle shed near a house in Bamori village in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district on Sunday, villagers said.
The incident triggered panic among villagers, who said they are now apprehensive about going to their fields at night.
The incident occurred around 5 am in Bamori village under Laharoni gram panchayat in Karhal tehsil, about 70 km from the Sheopur district headquarters.
Kuno National Park in Sheopur district is the home to 53 cheetahs, including 40 Indian-born cheetahs.
The cattle owner, Somla Singh, and his wife were sleeping on a cot near the shed when they woke up to the sound of the cursorial animals attacking the calves. The couple panicked on seeing the animals nearby and fled to safety, according to villagers.
The incident has heightened concerns among residents over cheetahs venturing close to homes.
Villagers said farmers are currently irrigating rabi crops and often visit their fields at night. The movement of cheetahs has made them apprehensive about travelling along village paths and working in their fields after dark.
Cheetah project director Uttam Kumar Sharma said people need not panic as cheetahs do not attack humans. He urged residents to inform the forest department immediately if the animals are spotted in their villages.
A cheetah monitoring team is keeping watch on the animals round the clock, he said, adding that cattle owners are provided compensation as per rules in cases of livestock kills.
(PTI News)
