Inquiry against Indian man seen giving water to cheetahs in viral video

In early April 2025, a seemingly heartwarming moment between a man and a wild animal quickly spiraled into a heated debate across India. A video surfaced from Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park showing a forest department driver offering water to a cheetah and her four cubs. The scene was simple yet striking — a metal bowl, a thirsty feline family, and a man moved by instinct to help. But what followed wasn’t praise — it was punishment.

What the Video Showed

The video, filmed near the edge of the park, captured a rare interaction. Jwala, a cheetah reintroduced from Africa as part of India’s conservation efforts, had wandered with her cubs close to a human settlement. In the clip, the man can be seen calmly pouring water for the animals, as voices in the background urge him on. The cheetahs, visibly parched, drank gratefully. For many viewers, the moment was touching. But for wildlife officials, it crossed a serious line.

Why It Sparked Backlash

India’s cheetah reintroduction program — which began in 2022 — is a delicate and ambitious effort. Cheetahs had been extinct in the country for over 70 years, and the project to bring them back is filled with strict guidelines. Human interaction is to be minimized to avoid the animals becoming dependent on or desensitized to people. Officials feared the act, though well-meaning, could encourage dangerous behavior. If cheetahs begin associating humans with food or water, the risks multiply — not just for people, but for the cheetahs themselves. The driver was swiftly disciplined for violating park protocol.

Public Reactions: Divided Opinions

The internet, as expected, had opinions. Many saw the act as an example of basic kindness — one man easing the suffering of another living being. Others, especially those familiar with wildlife behavior, argued that such actions could sabotage years of conservation work. “Intentions may be good,” one conservationist noted, “but in the wild, even kindness can kill.”

A Larger Conversation

This incident has sparked broader discussions about wildlife ethics in India. How do we balance compassion with science? When do instincts need to be overridden by rules? The cheetah project is still in its infancy, and such incidents are likely to arise again. What matters most now is public education and reinforcing why those boundaries exist.

Final Thoughts

One viral video can change a life — or an entire conversation. In this case, it reminded us that wildlife conservation is not just about saving animals — it’s about learning how to live alongside them without interference. It’s about knowing when to help, and when to let nature take its course.