WILDLIFE IN MADHYA PRADESH

Madhya Pradesh, meaning ‘central province,’ is a central Indian state that is bordered by Uttar Pradesh in the northeast, Rajasthan in the northwest, Chhattisgarh in the southeast, Gujarat in the west, and Maharashtra in the south. It is also the second-largest Indian state in terms of area. River Narmada flows through the state, along the Vindhya and Satpura ranges that act as natural barriers between north and south India. 

There are 18 Biosphere Reserves in India and Madhya Pradesh itself shares three of them, namely, the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve in the Satpura Range, the Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, and the Panna National Park, most parts of which are located in eastern Madhya Pradesh. The state also has 25 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 10 National Parks, and 4 major types of forests, which give way to one of the richest biologically diverse areas. There are around 5000 species of plants, 1000 species of medicinal plants, 500 species of birds, 180 species of fish, and many others that inhabit the forests of Madhya Pradesh. 

The state is located on the genetic highway that connects the Western Ghats to the northeastern portion of India, both of which are huge biodiversity hotspots of India. Hence, it only makes sense that this area, too, is full of thriving wildlife and natural environment. The 10 National Parks in the state are the Bandhavgarh National Park which has the highest Bengal Tiger population in India, the Dinosaur National Park, the Fossil National Park, the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Kanha National Park, the Madhav National Park, the Panna National Park, the Sanjay National Park, the Satpura National Park, and the Van Vihar National Park. The Fossil National Parks are human-made National Parks that house plant fossils that are dated to about 40 – 150 million years ago. The Bandhavgarh National Park is also known for its White Tiger population.

The Barasingha, a very important and endangered type of Deer, is the State Animal whereas the Indian Paradise Flycatcher is the State Bird. The State Flower is the Madonna Lily and the State Tree is the commonly found Banyan Tree, which are all very important to maintain the ecology of the area. The state is a must-visit to all nature lovers and adventure seekers as it caters something to everyone who visits.