Madhav National Park becomes India’s 58th Tiger Reserve

Madhav National Park, located in Madhya Pradesh, India, is a historic wildlife sanctuary home to diverse flora, fauna, and scenic landscapes, including lakes and ancient structures.

Context: The Central Government has officially declared Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh as India’s 58th Tiger Reserve.

About Madhav National Park

Location: Situated in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, in the Chambal region.
It lies within the Bundelkhand region, covering both plateaus and forests.
Madhav NP has a long history of being used as a royal hunting ground before its designation as a national park in 1958.
- The Scindia dynasty, particularly the Maharajas of Gwalior, used the park as their hunting preserve.
- It was named after Madho Rao Scindia, a prominent ruler of Gwalior.
Rivers flowing: Manihar

Wildlife and Biodiversity

Tigers: Currently, five tigers are present, including two cubs.
Other Mammals: Includes leopards, hyenas, jackals, sambar deer, chital (spotted deer), nilgai (blue bull), chinkara (Indian gazelle), and wild boars.
Birdlife: Painted storks, peafowls, white-breasted kingfishers and various migratory birds.
Lakes: Sakhya Sagar Lake. (Wetland under Ramsar Convention) & Madhav Sagar Lake.

Facts

Total Tiger Reserves in India: 58
- 56th – Guru Ghasidas – Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve -Chattisgarh.
- 57th – Ratapani Tiger Reserve – Madhya Pradesh.
- 58th – Madhav National Park – Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of Tiger Reserves in India: 9
Also, Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of national parks in India: 11
India hosts over 70% of the world’s tiger population.
Total Tigers in India: 3682
- (1) Madhya Pradesh – 785 (2) Karnataka – 563 (3) Uttarakhand – 560