Leopard falls into well near Kuno National Park, injures two villagers in rescue
Synopsis
A leopard that chased a calf out of Kuno National Park ended up sharing a well with it — and then attacked two villagers who climbed in to help with the rescue. The incident in Bhilaudi village highlights the persistent human-wildlife friction along Kuno's boundary, even as the park draws national attention for its cheetah reintroduction programme.
Key Takeaways
A leopard from Kuno National Park fell into an open well in Bhilaudi village , Shivpuri district , on Sunday while chasing a calf.
Two villagers — Mohan Singh and Uddhav Shikari — were injured when the leopard attacked them inside the well during the rescue attempt.
Medical Officer Raju Singh confirmed both injured persons are in stable condition after receiving immediate treatment.
Forest officials rescued the leopard without further incident; the animal is under observation before being released.
Kuno National Park has seen repeated boundary-crossing incidents involving wildlife, including cheetahs straying into neighbouring districts and toward Rajasthan .
A leopard that strayed out of Kuno National Park (KNP) fell into an open well while chasing a calf in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, injuring two villagers who climbed in to assist forest officials during the rescue operation, according to a park official. The incident took place in Bhilaudi village, located close to the national park's boundary.
How the Incident Unfolded
The leopard entered the residential area from the adjoining forest on Sunday morning and spotted a calf grazing near agricultural fields. As it gave chase, the frightened calf bolted and accidentally tumbled into a nearby open well. The leopard, continuing its pursuit, also slipped and plunged into the same well.
Villagers who witnessed the chase immediately alerted the forest department, which dispatched a rescue team from Kuno National Park with the necessary equipment.
Villagers Injured During Rescue
Two local residents — Mohan Singh, son of Bhup Singh Yadav, and Uddhav Shikari — volunteered to help and descended into the well to assist forest officials. Before the leopard could be tranquillised or caged, it attacked both men inside the well.
The forest team intervened swiftly, separated the animal from the men, and shifted the injured villagers to a nearby hospital. Medical Officer Raju Singh confirmed that both individuals sustained injuries during the operation but said their condition is stable and that they received immediate medical attention.
Leopard Rescued, Under Observation
Forest officials subsequently rescued the leopard from the well without further incident. The animal is currently under observation and is expected to be released back into the forest following a health check.
Panic had spread across Bhilaudi after the leopard was spotted near homes. A resident recounted hearing the calf's cries and witnessing the leopard fall into the well before alerting the forest department.
Kuno Park's Recurring Boundary Tensions
This incident is the latest in a series of human-wildlife conflict episodes near Kuno National Park, which has remained in the spotlight due to the ongoing cheetah reintroduction project. Several cheetahs relocated under the project have reportedly travelled beyond park boundaries into neighbouring districts and even toward Rajasthan in recent months. The leopard straying into a residential area underscores the broader challenge of managing wildlife movement along the park's periphery, where forest land and agricultural settlements sit in close proximity.
Point of View
Amplified by the cheetah reintroduction project, is pushing animals into settlements that were never designed to coexist with large predators. The fact that two civilians had to enter a well to assist an under-equipped rescue team raises serious questions about forest department preparedness and community safety protocols. With cheetahs already crossing into Rajasthan and leopards entering village homes, the Centre's flagship rewilding project needs an equally robust human-safety framework — one that is currently conspicuous by its absence.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Kuno National Park on 25 May 2025?
A leopard that strayed from Kuno National Park fell into an open well in Bhilaudi village, Shivpuri district, while chasing a calf. During the rescue operation, it attacked two villagers who had descended into the well to help forest officials; both sustained injuries but are in stable condition.
Who were the villagers injured in the leopard rescue?
The two injured villagers are Mohan Singh, son of Bhup Singh Yadav, and Uddhav Shikari. Both volunteered to assist the forest rescue team and were attacked by the leopard before it could be tranquillised.
What is the current condition of the injured villagers?
Medical Officer Raju Singh confirmed that both injured persons received immediate medical attention and their condition is stable.
What happened to the leopard after the rescue?
Forest officials rescued the leopard from the well without further incident. The animal is currently under observation and is expected to be released back into the forest after a health check.
Why is Kuno National Park frequently in the news?
Kuno National Park is the site of India's cheetah reintroduction project, under which several cheetahs have been relocated from Namibia and South Africa. Multiple cheetahs have reportedly crossed park boundaries into neighbouring districts and toward Rajasthan in recent months, and the latest leopard incident adds to ongoing concerns about human-wildlife conflict along the park's periphery.
