Font size:
Print
Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
Context:
The Madhya Pradesh (MP) government finalised arrangements for establishment of a second cheetah habitat.
More on news:
- MP finalised preparations for the cheetah reintroduction project at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, second after Kuno National Park.
- Teams from Kenya and South Africa had earlier visited Gandhi Sagar to assess the conditions.
- Prey animals from Kanha, Satpura, and Sanjay tiger reserves have been moved to Gandhi Sagar.
Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
- Location: Eastern Madhya Pradesh, spanning Mandsaur and Neemuch districts.
-
- Part of Nimar region, bordering Rajasthan, characterised by dry vegetation and rocky terrain.
- Vegetation and Forest Type:
-
- Forms part of Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forest.
- Trees include Salai, Kardhai, Dhawda, Tendu, Palash.
- Wildlife Diversity:
- Wildlife Species: Wild Dogs (Dholes), Chinkara, Leopard, Otter, Mugger crocodile.
- Common Animal Sightings: Spotted Deer, Sambar, Gray Langur.
- Gandhi Sagar Dam Backwater surrounds the sanctuary, adding to its scenic beauty and wildlife habitat.
-
- The sanctuary is divided into two parts by the Chambal River flowing through it.
- The sanctuary spans 368 square km, with an additional 2,500 sq km buffer area.
- A 64 square-km enclosure is being prepared within the sanctuary to initially hold the cheetahs.
- Historical and Archaeological Significance:
-
- Notified in 1974, declared a sanctuary in 1984.
- Home to Chaturbhuj Nala rock shelters and paintings, along with Chaturbhuj Nath temple.
- Surrounding area includes heritage sites like Dharmrajeshwar temple resembling Ajanta-Ellora rock cut temples.
Kanha Tiger Reserve:
- Location: Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh.
- Originally divided into Hallon and Banjar sanctuaries.
- Established as Kanha National Park in 1955.
- Designated as Kanha Tiger Reserve in 1973.
- Largest National Park in Central India.
Satpura Tiger Reserve:
- Location:Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh.
- Species include tiger, leopard, Indian bison, Indian giant squirrel, sambar, wild boar, etc.
- Notable for over 300 caves of historical and archaeological significance.
Sanjay Tiger Reserve:
- Location: Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh.
- Sanjay-Dubri National Park and Tiger Reserve established in 1975, to conserve biodiversity in the district’s Evergreen Sal forest.
- Wildlife includes tiger, sloth bear, sambar (in limited hilly terrain), leopard, dhole (wild dog), jackal, fox, Indian wolf, etc.
|
Cheetah Reintroduction Project:
|