Cheetah KGP-1, which recently moved out of Kuno National Park, has once again been spotted in the Bhitarwar region of Gwalior district. The animal was seen moving through farmlands near Kerua village after passing through the hilly areas of Devgarh village, prompting renewed attention from local residents and forest officials.

A video recorded by villagers showing the cheetah walking calmly through agricultural fields has gone viral on social media. The footage also shows members of the forest department’s monitoring team following the animal from a safe distance. Forest officials said the cheetah continues to move across different regions while being continuously tracked through its GPS-enabled radio collar.

Movement Across Multiple Regions

According to forest department sources, KGP-1 has been roaming outside Kuno National Park for nearly 45 days. During this period, the cheetah has travelled through several locations including Aron, Simaria, the Tighra Dam region, forest areas in Morena district and parts of Ghatigaon before reaching Bhitarwar. Officials said the movement pattern suggests the animal is actively exploring forest corridors and water-rich areas across the Gwalior-Chambal region.

Seen In Kerua Village Fields

The latest sighting occurred near agricultural fields in Kerua village, where local residents spotted the cheetah moving through open land during daylight hours. Villagers recorded videos on mobile phones, which later spread rapidly across social media platforms. The visuals show the cheetah appearing calm while walking through the fields. Forest monitoring personnel can also be seen tracking the animal from behind. Authorities said no aggressive behaviour was observed during the sighting.

Earlier Tracked Near Tighra

Forest officials had earlier tracked KGP-1 near the Lakhanpura forest area close to Tighra Dam on April 15. At that time, wildlife experts believed the cheetah had moved toward the area in search of water sources and safe wildlife corridors. A few days later, on April 20, the cheetah’s presence was also recorded near Uakheda village and adjoining agricultural areas in Ghatigaon. On April 30, villagers reportedly spotted the animal resting between crop fields, leading to panic among some residents before forest teams intervened.

Tracking Collar Helps Monitoring

Officials said the cheetah is wearing a tracking collar, allowing wildlife teams to monitor its movement continuously. The tracking system has enabled Kuno National Park authorities and forest department teams to follow the animal’s route in real time and respond quickly whenever it enters populated zones. Authorities clarified that KGP-1 has not attacked any villager or livestock so far, which has helped prevent panic in nearby settlements. Forest officials said monitoring teams remain on alert due to the cheetah’s frequent movement across multiple districts.

Experts Cite Natural Behaviour

Wildlife experts said such long-distance movement is considered natural behaviour for cheetahs adapting to new habitats after relocation projects. According to experts, forest regions around Ghatigaon and adjoining areas currently have sufficient prey availability, reducing the chances of aggressive interaction with humans or domestic animals. They explained that open forest stretches, water availability and safe movement corridors influence the animal’s travel patterns. The ongoing movement of KGP-1 is also being closely studied as part of broader wildlife management and cheetah reintroduction efforts in India.

Advisory Issued For Villagers

The forest department has issued advisories in villages surrounding the movement zone and appealed to residents to remain cautious. Officials advised villagers not to approach the cheetah, avoid entering forested areas alone and refrain from surrounding the animal for photographs or videos. Residents have also been instructed to immediately inform forest teams if the cheetah is spotted near residential areas or grazing fields. Authorities said monitoring operations will continue until the animal either returns toward protected forest zones or moves into another safe wildlife corridor.