 Madhav
(Shivpuri) National Park 156 sq km in area, the park is open throughout the year. Biogeographical Provinces
4.8.4 (Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest). The park enforces the conservation which the area enjoyed when it was the private shooting reserve of the Maharaja of
Gwalior. It was established as the Shivpuri National Park in 1958 simultaneously with the creation of the State of Madhya
Pradesh. It now enjoys further protection under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Consists of level, undulating and hilly country in the Vindhyan range. Also lake. Altitude ranges from 360-480m.
With a varied terrain of wooded hills, the forest being dry, mixed and deciduous with flat grasslands around the lake, it offers abundant opportunities of sighting a variety of
wildlife. The
vegetation in the park mixed dry deciduous forest of somewhat poor quality
The predominant species that inhabits the park is the deer, of which the most easily sighted are the graceful little Chinkara, the Indian gazelle, and the Chital. Other species that have their habitat in the park are
Nilgai, Sambar, Chausingha or four-horned Antelope, Blackbuck, Sloth Bear, Leopard and the ubiquitous common
Langur. Tiger Panthera tigris (occasional), leopard Panthera pardus, striped
Hyaena, jackal Canis aureus, jungle cat Felis chaus) chital Axis axis, sambar Cervus
unicolor, nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, four-horned antelope (chowsingha) Tetracerus
quadricornis, wild boar Sus scrofa, chinkara (mountain gazelle) Gazella, crocodile and others.
The National park is equally
rich in the artificial lake, Chandpata, is winter home of
 geese, pochard,
pintail, teal, mallard and gadwall. A good site for bird watching is where
the forest track crosses the wide rocky stream that flows from the Waste
Weir. Species that frequently this spot are Red Wattled
Lapwing, Large Pied Wagtail, Pond Heron and White - Breasted Kingfisher.
The avifauna also includes Cormorant, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Laggar Falcon, Purple Sunbird, Paradise Flycatcher and Golden Oriole. Several hotels and clubs nearby managed by the State Tourism Development Corporation and the Direction, National Park. There are also tourist facilities like boating on the lake. |
