Comic strip glimpse showing Chintoo and Chanda Cheetah awaiting to be in Kuno-Palapur, MP and hoping to be protected by the residents
The first time ever Carnivores reintroduction has taken a unique turn, as Madhya Pradesh forest department wants residents of the state to adopt the African Cheetah as a part of their family members and tie the knot of protection to ‘Chanda Cheetah’.
Adoption of a carnivore seems like an impossible idea to simple minded villagers living surrounding Kuno-Palapur. However, to avert the challenges, forest department first launched ‘Chintoo Cheetah’ as an innovative way to educate people about the African Cheetah.
Further, the department has been building people’s ownership with various such innovative education programmes.
“Once, we have the cheetah here, hopefully in November, the bigger challenge is to protect and ensure survival of the Cheetah here,” Rajnish Singh, assistant conservator of forest, said.
He added that to built ownership, the department used the character to tell people about the nature of Cheetah using comic strip.
Chintoo and Mintoo: Meeta to tie the Rakhi to Chanda Cheetah
Preparing people to adopt and protect the Cheetah as their own, a fresh comic strip titled ‘Chintoo and Mintoo’ will be launched soon before Rakhi.
Chanda Cheetah is launched in this comic strip. The female cheetah is shown equally excited to be a part of India and find new home in MP.
Mintoo, a little boy and his sister Meeta, recall the sad end of Asiatic Cheetah in India about 70 years back. As they go out to buy Rakhi, they meet a forest guard.
Through the forest, the little boy and girl communicate with Chintoo Cheetah, who is accompanied by a female Cheetah this time. They are discussing over the video call.
Chintoo shares his excitement to come to India and meet them. Chanda, the female cheetah, expresses the same and then asks about shiny Rakhi. Further, as the story goes, Mintoo’s sister promises to tie the Raakhi to Chanda and vow to protect her.
10,000 Cheetah Rakhis
To bring this ownership among people, 10,000 rakhis featuring the caricatured versions of Cheetahs will be sent out to all the villagers near Kuno-Palapur.
Cheetah is built to attack deer family, not human
“Cheetahs are not an active threat to humans, and are rather docile compared to other wild cats,” Singh said.
As per their build, Cheetahs are very lightweight, and aren't built to fight large and aggressive animals. “They are more adept to catching a fast running animal like a deer or black buck,” Singh said. He added that it is very uncommon that cheetahs will attack humans.
“There are over 7,000 cheetahs in Africa alone, but never have they attacked humans,” Singh said.
The first time ever Carnivores reintroduction has taken a unique turn, as Madhya Pradesh forest department wants residents of the state to adopt the African Cheetah as a part of their family members and tie the knot of protection to ‘Chanda Cheetah’.
Adoption of a carnivore seems like an impossible idea to simple minded villagers living surrounding Kuno-Palapur. However, to avert the challenges, forest department first launched ‘Chintoo Cheetah’ as an innovative way to educate people about the African Cheetah.
Further, the department has been building people’s ownership with various such innovative education programmes.
“Once, we have the cheetah here, hopefully in November, the bigger challenge is to protect and ensure survival of the Cheetah here,” Rajnish Singh, assistant conservator of forest, said.
He added that to built ownership, the department used the character to tell people about the nature of Cheetah using comic strip.
Chintoo and Mintoo: Meeta to tie the Rakhi to Chanda Cheetah
Preparing people to adopt and protect the Cheetah as their own, a fresh comic strip titled ‘Chintoo and Mintoo’ will be launched soon before Rakhi.
Chanda Cheetah is launched in this comic strip. The female cheetah is shown equally excited to be a part of India and find new home in MP.
Mintoo, a little boy and his sister Meeta, recall the sad end of Asiatic Cheetah in India about 70 years back. As they go out to buy Rakhi, they meet a forest guard.
Through the forest, the little boy and girl communicate with Chintoo Cheetah, who is accompanied by a female Cheetah this time. They are discussing over the video call.
Chintoo shares his excitement to come to India and meet them. Chanda, the female cheetah, expresses the same and then asks about shiny Rakhi. Further, as the story goes, Mintoo’s sister promises to tie the Raakhi to Chanda and vow to protect her.
10,000 Cheetah Rakhis
To bring this ownership among people, 10,000 rakhis featuring the caricatured versions of Cheetahs will be sent out to all the villagers near Kuno-Palapur.
Cheetah is built to attack deer family, not human
“Cheetahs are not an active threat to humans, and are rather docile compared to other wild cats,” Singh said.
As per their build, Cheetahs are very lightweight, and aren't built to fight large and aggressive animals. “They are more adept to catching a fast running animal like a deer or black buck,” Singh said. He added that it is very uncommon that cheetahs will attack humans.
“There are over 7,000 cheetahs in Africa alone, but never have they attacked humans,” Singh said.