Kuno National Park
{{short description|National park in Madhya Pradesh, India}}
{{use Indian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Kuno National Park
| iucn_category = II
| photo = Kuno river.jpg
| photo_caption = Kuno river view in Kuno National Park
| photo_width =
| map = India Madhya Pradesh #India
| relief = yes
| mapframe = Yes
| named_for = Kuno River
| map_caption = Location in Madhya Pradesh
| map_width =
| mapframe-zoom = 9
| location = Sheopur and Shivpuri districts in Madhya Pradesh, {{flagu|India}}
| nearest_city = Gwalior, Shivpuri, Sheopur
| coords = {{coord|25|40|00|N|77|10|00|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{cvt|748.76|km2}}
| established = {{start date and age|1981}} as Wildlife Sanctuary
{{start date and age|2018}} as National Park
| governing_body = Divisional Forest Officer
| website = {{URL|www.kunonationalpark.org/}}
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
}}
Kuno National Park is a national park and wildlife sanctuary in Gwalior Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh, India. It derives its name from the Kuno River. It was established in 1981 as a wildlife sanctuary with an initial area of {{cvt|344.686|km2}}. In 2018, it was given the status of a national park with total area of {{cvt|748.76|km2}}.
History
Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1981 with an initial area of about {{cvt|344.68|km2}} in the Sheopur and Morena districts.{{cite journal |last1=Kabra |first1=A. |year=2009 |title=Conservation-induced displacement: a comparative study of two Indian protected areas |journal=Conservation and Society |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=249−267 |doi=10.4103/0972-4923.65172 |hdl=10535/6089 |doi-access=free |hdl-access=free}} In 2018, it was given the status of a national park with total area of {{cvt|748.76|km2}}.{{Cite news|title=How to visit Kuno National Park? Now, the land of 12 South African cheetahs|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/how-to-visit-kuno-national-park-now-the-land-of-12-south-african-cheetahs-370726-2023-02-19|work=Business Today|date=19 February 2023|access-date=5 February 2025}}
In the 1990s, it was selected as a possible site to implement the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project, which aimed at establishing a second lion population in India.{{cite journal |last1=Khudsar |first1=F. A. |last2=Sharma |first2=K. |last3=Rao |first3=R. J. |last4=Chundawat |first4=R. S. |year= 2008 |title=Estimation of prey base and its implications in Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary |journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume=105 |issue=1 |pages=42–48 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281307523}}
Between 1998 and 2003, about 1,650 inhabitants of 24 villages were resettled to sites outside the protected area.
Most of the inhabitants were Saharia tribal people. The villages were also home to Jatav, Brahmin, Gurjar, Kushwaha and Yadav people.{{cite journal |last1=Kabra |first1=A. |year=2003 |title=Displacement and rehabilitation of an Adivasi settlement: case of Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |pages=3073–3078 |url=http://rlarrdc.org.in/images/Displacement%20and%20Rehabilitation%20of%20an%20Adivasi%20Settlement.pdf |access-date=25 May 2023 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226202619/http://rlarrdc.org.in/images/Displacement%20and%20Rehabilitation%20of%20an%20Adivasi%20Settlement.pdf |url-status=live}}
An area of {{cvt|924|km2}} surrounding the wildlife sanctuary was added as a buffer zone to human settlements. In 2009, Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary was also proposed as a possible site for cheetah reintroduction in India.{{cite book |last1=Ranjitsinh |first1=M. K. |author2-link=Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala |last2= Jhala |first2=Y. V. |year=2010 |title=Assessing the potential for reintroducing the cheetah in India |publisher=Wildlife Trust of India and Wildlife Institute of India |location=Noida and Dehradun}}
Gujarat state had resisted the relocation of lion, since it would make the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary lose its status as the world's only home of the Asiatic lion. In April 2013, the Indian Supreme Court ordered Gujarat to send some of their Gir lions to Madhya Pradesh to establish a second population. The court had given wildlife authorities six months to complete the transfer.Anand, U. (2013). [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/supreme-court-gives-madhya-pradesh-lions-share-from-gujarats-gir/1103080/ Supreme Court gives Madhya Pradesh lions' share from Gujarat's Gir] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520004510/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/supreme-court-gives-madhya-pradesh-lions-share-from-gujarats-gir/1103080 |date=20 May 2013}}. The Indian Express Ltd., 17 April 2013. In December 2018, the state government changed the status of the wildlife sanctuary to Kuno National Park and enlarged the protected area by {{cvt|413|km2}}.{{cite news |author=Naveen, P. |date=2018 |title=Madhya Pradesh: Kuno notified as national park, path clear for Gir lions |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/madhya-pradesh-kuno-notified-as-national-park-path-clear-for-gir-lions/articleshow/67227362.cms |work=Times of India |access-date=3 January 2018 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225005925/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/madhya-pradesh-kuno-notified-as-national-park-path-clear-for-gir-lions/articleshow/67227362.cms |url-status=live}} The Gujarat government has not carried out the Supreme Court's order since 2013 and resisted the relocation of lions to other states.{{cite news |work=Indian Express |title=Despite SC order, no shifting of lions outside Gujarat in Centre's 25-year plan |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/despite-sc-order-no-shifting-of-lions-outside-gujarat-centre-25-year-plan-8053551/|date=27 July 2022 |access-date=27 July 2022|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726232142/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/despite-sc-order-no-shifting-of-lions-outside-gujarat-centre-25-year-plan-8053551/|url-status=live}}
In January 2022, environment minister Bhupender Yadav launched the action plan for reintroducing cheetahs in India, starting with Kuno national park.{{cite web |url=https://www.newsendip.com/india-launches-action-plan-for-reintroducing-cheetah-after-70-years-of-absence/ |title=India launches action plan for reintroducing cheetah after 70 years of absence |date=2022 |access-date=7 January 2022 |archive-date=7 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107112003/https://www.newsendip.com/india-launches-action-plan-for-reintroducing-cheetah-after-70-years-of-absence/ |url-status=live }} According to Bhopal-based environmentalist Ajay Dubey plans to reintroduce African cheetahs in Kuno National Park is another way to escape the transfer of lions to the Kuno National Park. According to experts, introduction of African cheetah into India don't make sense in conservation science.{{Cite news |title=The Other Problems With Bringing African Cheetahs to India|url=https://science.thewire.in/law/african-cheetahs-kuno-legal-problems/ |work=The Wire |date=23 September 2023|access-date=4 March 2025}}
On 17 September 2022, five females and three male cheetahs aged 4 to 6 years arrived in Kuno National Park from Namibia.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/cheetahs-in-india-a-spotted-history-a-future-of-hopes/articleshow/94249137.cms|title=Cheetahs in India: A spotted history, a future of hopes|newspaper=The Times of India |date=2022 |access-date=17 September 2022|archive-date=17 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917025719/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/cheetahs-in-india-a-spotted-history-a-future-of-hopes/articleshow/94249137.cms|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/madhya-pradesh-s-kuno-national-park-home-to-cheetahs-from-namibia-5-points-101663388911350-amp.html |title=Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, home to Cheetahs from Namibia: 5 points|access-date=17 September 2022 |archive-date=17 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917113419/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/madhya-pradesh-s-kuno-national-park-home-to-cheetahs-from-namibia-5-points-101663388911350-amp.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=PM Modi's Cheetah reintroduction mission: First batch to be brought from Namibia |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/pm-modis-cheetah-reintroduction-mission-first-batch-to-be-brought-from-namibia-2509135.html |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Zee News |archive-date=14 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914042246/https://zeenews.india.com/india/pm-modis-cheetah-reintroduction-mission-first-batch-to-be-brought-from-namibia-2509135.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=2022-09-17 |title=Modi: India PM reintroduces extinct cheetahs on birthday |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-62899981 |access-date=2022-09-29 |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929055028/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-62899981 |url-status=live}} On 18 February 2023, 12 more cheetahs arrived in Kuno National Park.{{Cite news |last=Jha |first=S. |date=2023 |title=12 cheetahs from South Africa arrive in India |work=Down To Earth |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/12-cheetahs-from-south-africa-arrive-in-india-87789 |access-date=18 Feb 2023 |archive-date=18 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218170618/https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/12-cheetahs-from-south-africa-arrive-in-india-87789 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Gillett |first=F. |date=2023 |title=First cheetah cubs born in India since extinction 70 years ago |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65113651 |access-date=29 March 2023 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329181611/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65113651 |url-status=live}} On 11 March 2023, two cheetahs were released into the wild of Kuno National Park.{{Cite news |title=India’s First Cheetah Couple Released Into The Wild Of Kuno National Park |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-first-cheetah-couple-released-into-the-wild-of-kuno-national-park/articleshow/98570012.cms |work=Times of India |date=2023|access-date=6 February 2025}} On 5 February 2025, five cheetahs were released into the wild.{{Cite news|title=Madhya Pradesh CM releases five more cheetahs into the wild in Kuno|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/madhya-pradesh/madhya-pradesh-cm-releases-five-more-cheetahs-into-the-wild-in-kuno/article69184376.ece|work=The Hindu|date=5 February 2025|access-date=6 February 2025}} On 21 February 2025, five more cheetahs were released.{{Cite news|title=Five more cheetahs released into Kuno National Park|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/madhya-pradesh/five-more-cheetahs-released-into-kuno-national-park/article69248544.ece |work=The Hindu |date=22 February 2025|access-date=28 February 2025}}
Geography
Kuno National Park is located in Sheopur and Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It derives its name from the Kuno River which flows through the Park. It was established in 1981 as a wildlife sanctuary with an initial area of {{cvt|344.686|km2}} and later increased to {{cvt|748.76|km2}}. It was declared a National Park in 2018. Palpur fort is located in the core area of park which was built during 18th century by rulers of Karauli state.{{Cite news|title=Madhya Pradesh: Buzz Over Pot Of Ancient Coins Dug Up In Kuno |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/madhya-pradesh-buzz-over-pot-of-ancient-coins-dug-up-in-kuno/articleshow/94999479.cms |work=Times of India|date=21 October 2022|access-date=5 February 2025}}
The nearest Airport to Kuno National Park is Gwalior Airport and nearest railway station is Gwalior Junction Railway Station.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2024 |title=How to reach |url=https://www.kunonationalpark.org/tourist/how-to-reach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204144326/https://www.kunonationalpark.org/tourist/how-to-reach |archive-date=4 December 2024 |access-date=18 March 2025 |website=Kuno National Park}}
Flora
The vegetation in the park varies from tropical dry deciduous forest to savannah grasslands. It is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.{{WWF ecoregion |id=im0206 |name=Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests |access-date=2017-01-29}}
The vegetation includes Anogeissus pendula forest and scrub, Boswellia and Butea forest, dry savanna forest and grassland and tropical riverine forest. The dominant tree species are Acacia catechu, Salai Boswellia serrata, Tendu Diospyros melanoxylon, Palash Butea monosperma, Dhok Anogeissus latifolia, Acacia leucophloea, Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus xylopyrus. Prominent shrub species include Grewia flavescens, Helicteres isora, Hopbush viscosa, Vitex negundo. Grass species include Heteropogon contortus, Apluda mutica, Aristida hystrix, Themeda quadrivalvis, Cenchrus ciliaris and Desmostachya bipinnata. Senna tora and Argemone mexicana are also common.{{cite book |author=Bipin, C. M. |author2=Bhattacharjee, S. |author3=Shah, S. |author4=Sharma, V. S. |author5=Mishra, R. K. |author6=Ghose, D. |author7=Jhala, Y. V. |year=2003 |title=Status of prey in Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh |location=Dehradun |publisher=Wildlife Institute of India |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299429632 |doi=10.13140/RG.2.1.1036.2005}}
Fauna
=Mammals=
Kuno National Park hosts many species of wildlife including chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, blackbuck, chousingha, wild boar, Indian porcupine, Indian hare and langurs. The main predators occurring in the protected area are Indian leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear, dhole, Indian wolf, Indian jackal, striped hyena, Bengal fox and Indian grey mongoose. More than 1,900 feral zebu cattle were estimated to occur in 2008, whereas density of wild ungulates was considered too low to sustain an introduced lion population at the time. In 2023, Southeast African cheetahs were released in Kuno National Park.
=Reptiles=
Mugger crocodile, gharial, Bengal monitor and Indian softshell turtle have been sighted in Kuno River.
=Birds=
A total of 129 bird species were sighted during a survey in spring 2007. Indian white-backed vulture, long-billed vulture, red-headed vulture, Egyptian vulture, crested serpent-eagle, short-toed snake eagle, Bonelli's eagle, white-eyed buzzard, changeable hawk-eagle, brown fish owl and spotted owlet are resident raptors. Western marsh-harrier, pied harrier, Montagu's harrier, steppe eagle, osprey, common kestrel, short-eared owl, Demoiselle crane and common crane are winter visitors.{{cite journal |last1=Ramesh |first1=T. |last2=Sridharan |first2=N. |last3=Kalle |first3=R. |year=2011 |title=Birds of Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, Central India |journal=Zoos' Print |volume=26 |issue=12 |pages=25–29 |url=https://zoosprint.zooreach.org/index.php/zp/article/view/1790/1659 |access-date=25 May 2023 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731131721/https://zoosprint.zooreach.org/index.php/zp/article/view/1790/1659 |url-status=live}}
Avifauna also includes black-winged kite, painted spurfowl, ruddy shelduck, Indian peafowl, grey francolin, Eurasian nightjar, jungle nightjar, Indian nightjar, painted sandgrouse, woolly-necked stork, great stone-curlew, Sirkeer malkoha, Indian golden oriole, black-rumped flameback, bay-backed shrike and Indian paradise flycatcher.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Kuno National Park}}
- {{cite web |publisher=Indian Government's National Web Portal |title=Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary |url=http://sheopur.nic.in/kuno.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317204121/http://sheopur.nic.in/kuno.htm |archive-date=2007-03-17}}
- {{cite web |publisher=India Environment Portal |title=Latest News on "Palpur-Kuno SA" |url=http://indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/wildlife/protected-area-conservation/sanctuaries/palpur-kuno-sa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005211850/http://indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/wildlife/protected-area-conservation/sanctuaries/palpur-kuno-sa |archive-date=2010-10-05 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929131437/http://www.forest.mp.gov.in/kuno.html "Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary"]
{{National Parks of India}}
Category:Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project
Category:Cheetah reintroduction in India
Category:Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests
Category:National parks in Madhya Pradesh