Madhav National Park

• 07 Feb 2025

Why in News? 

Madhav National Park is going to become the 9^th Tiger Reserve of the state, which will increase the wildlife prosperity in the Chambal region. 

Key Points 

• Important steps towards tiger conservation: 
  • The Madhav Tiger Reserve is part of a long-term plan to expand to an area of 1,600 sq km within five years . 
  • A tiger safari spread over an area of 100 hectares has also been planned, with an infrastructure investment of Rs 20 crore, which is expected to boost ecotourism and the local economy. 
  • At present, there are 8 major tiger reserves in the state ( Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, Sanjay Dubri, Ratapani and Nauradehi Tiger Reserve ).  
    • Ratapani is the eighth tiger reserve . 
    • In Kuno National Park, a female cheetah has given birth to two cubs.  
  • Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers in India (785 as per the 2022 census). 

Madhav National Park 

• About: 
  • Madhav National Park is a part of the Upper Vindhya Hills located in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh . 
  • This park was the hunting ground of the Mughal emperors and the Maharajas of Gwalior. It got the status of a national park in the year 1959. 
• Ecosystem:  
  • The area is blessed with diverse ecosystems, including lakes, dry deciduous forests and thorn forests. It is home to tiger, leopard, nilgai, chinkara, chowsingha and various kinds of deer. 
• Tiger Corridor:  
  • The park falls within one of the 32 major tiger corridors in the country, which are managed through the Tiger Conservation Plan. The Tiger Conservation Plan is implemented under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 .