MP's Madhav National Park Gains Tiger Reserve Status with Just 3 Tigers

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has approved Madhav National Park in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, as a tiger reserve, making it the state’s eighth. Despite having only three tigers—one male and two females—the new status aims to enhance wildlife conservation and promote eco-tourism.

On December 1, 2024, NTCA’s technical committee approved Madhav National Park as a tiger reserve. The park spans 1,751 sq km, comprising a 375 sq km core area and 1,276 sq km buffer zone. NTCA also sanctioned the release of another tiger pair to strengthen the population.

“This initiative by the Madhya Pradesh government will strengthen wildlife management in Madhav and Kuno National Parks, provide local communities with eco-tourism benefits, and promote regional development,” said L. Krishnamurthy, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife).

"This conservation initiative by the Madhya Pradesh government will strengthen wildlife management in Madhav and Kuno National Parks, benefiting local communities and regional development," Krishnamoorthy said.

Historical significance of Madhav National Park

Madhav National Park in Shivpuri district, Gwalior division, has a rich history. It was designated Shivpuri National Park in 1956, spanning 167 sq km, and renamed in 1959 after Madho Rao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior. The park was once the hunting grounds of the Scindia dynasty and Mughal emperors. Despite its royal past, the park faced significant degradation post-independence due to encroachments, agriculture, and illegal mining.

Conservation efforts for the park began in the 1990s, leading to a Supreme Court injunction in 1998 to halt mining. Expansion plans in 1982 added land along the Sindh River, increasing the park's area to 354 sq km.

Notable in the park is George Castle, built by Madho Rao Scindia in 1911 at the highest elevation (484 m). Constructed for King George V’s overnight stay during a planned tiger hunt, the turreted English-style castle features Belgian glass windows and Italian tile flooring. However, the king bypassed the castle as he had already shot a tiger before arriving.

Today, it hosts diverse species, including Nilgai, Chinkara, leopards, jackals, and pythons, alongside deer species like Chital, Sambar, and Chausingha.

The park features Sakhya Sagar Lake, a Ramsar site since 2022, and smaller reservoirs like Madhav Sagar, enhancing its ecological diversity. The park’s mix of forested hills and flat grasslands, part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests, makes it a biodiversity hotspot.

Madhya Pradesh leads & delays at Ratapani Sanctuary

Madhya Pradesh leads India with 785 tigers in the 2022 census, up from 526 in 2018. Madhav National Park joins seven other reserves, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench, contributing to the state’s Tiger State title.

Proximity to Kuno National Park, known for the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, makes Madhav Tiger Reserve pivotal for wildlife management in North Central India. The reserve’s development is expected to create eco-tourism opportunities and enhance conservation initiatives.

Madhav National Park achieved tiger reserve status, Ratapani Sanctuary, housing 90 tigers, faces delays despite NTCA approval in April 2022. Pending legal clearance has stalled the notification process, frustrating conservationists.

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