Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Cheetah Nirva Missing From Monitoring System At Kuno Park
Nirva is a female cheetah living in Kuno National Park.
Her satellite collar has not sent location signals for four to five days.
Forest officials are searching for her with five teams and more than 100 people.
They are also using drones and cameras.
A weaker signal from her collar is still being received, but it only works within about 500 metres.
This makes it harder to find her in the large forest.
Nirva’s two cubs have moved away because young cheetahs eventually learn to live and hunt independently.
Nirva had also stopped being tracked in 2023 but was later found.
A wildlife activist has raised concerns about how the park monitors and protects its cheetahs.
Female cheetah Nirva’s satellite collar has not transmitted signals for four to five days.
The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has deployed five teams and more than 100 staff to find her.
Drones and CCTV cameras are being used, while BHF signals remain available within about 500 metres.
Nirva’s two cubs have moved away from her, which officials described as a natural separation process.
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey questioned Kuno’s monitoring and safety systems, citing leopard deaths and cheetah tranquilisation.
- Who
- Female cheetah Nirva, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department teams, PCCF Wildlife Dr Samita Rajora, and wildlife activist Ajay Dubey.
- What
- Nirva’s satellite collar stopped transmitting location signals, prompting a search operation.
- When
- The signal has been unavailable for four to five days; the search began on Tuesday.
- Where
- Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Why
- Officials are trying to confirm Nirva’s location, while rain may have affected the satellite signal and BHF signals have limited range.
Forest Officials' Account
Wildlife Activist's Concerns
Possible cause of the signal loss
Forest Officials' Account
Officials said rain may have affected Nirva’s satellite signal and are using BHF signals and search teams to locate her.
Wildlife Activist's Concerns
Ajay Dubey questioned the park’s monitoring system after Nirva’s signal stopped transmitting again.
Kuno's wildlife management
Forest Officials' Account
Officials said Nirva’s cubs moving away from her is a natural process because they become able to hunt and live independently.
Wildlife Activist's Concerns
Dubey raised broader concerns about leopard deaths in Kuno and the repeated use of tranquilisation on cheetahs, questioning the park’s safety.
- Animal
- Female cheetah Nirva
- Location
- Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh
- Signal gap
- Four to five days
- Search teams
- Five teams with more than 100 forest staff
- Search tools
- Drones, CCTV cameras, and BHF signals
- BHF range
- Approximately 500 metres
- Earlier tracking loss
- Nirva was untracked for about 22 days in July 2023 before being found