In News:

Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh has been declared India’s 58th Tiger Reserve and the 9th in Madhya Pradesh, strengthening the state's status as a leader in tiger conservation.

About Madhav National Park

• Location: Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh; part of the Chambal region and the Upper Vindhyan Hills on the northern fringe of the Central Highlands.
• Established: As Madhya Bharat National Park in 1955; renamed Madhav National Park in 1959.
• National Park Status: Since 1958.
• Area: Approx. 354 sq km (expanded from 165 sq km).
• Historical Significance: Former hunting ground of Mughal emperors and Maharaja of Gwalior; named after Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia.

Ecological Profile

• Vegetation:
  • Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests
  • Dry Thorn Forests typical of North-Western Madhya Pradesh
• Fauna:
  • Large Mammals: Tigers, leopards, wolves, jackals, foxes, wild dogs
  • Antelopes: Nilgai, Chinkara, Chowsinga
  • Deer Species: Chital, Sambar, Barking Deer
  • Others: Crocodiles, porcupines, wild pigs, pythons
• Aquatic Ecosystems:
  • Two major lakes: Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar support aquatic biodiversity

Tiger Conservation Highlights

• Declared a Tiger Reserve: In 2024, becoming India’s 58th and Madhya Pradesh’s 9th.
• Tiger Reintroduction: Began in 2023; currently home to five tigers, including two cubs.
• Core and Buffer Zones:
  • Core Zone: Strictly protected, no human activity
  • Buffer Zone: Allows limited, regulated human use to support coexistence

Governance and Protection Framework

• Tiger Reserve Status:
  • Notified under Section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
  • Falls under Project Tiger (1973), monitored by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
• Approval Process:
  1. State Government Proposal
  2. NTCA Evaluation
  3. MoEFCC Final Notification
• Monitoring System: M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) used for surveillance and conservation.