Kuno National Park - India's First Cheetah Sanctuary After 70 Years.

 

Kuno National Park located in the Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh is spread over an area of 750 square kilometres. It was established as Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in shape of a leaf with Kuno river forming the main centre spine. This river not only helps in keeping a constant water supply in the area and irrigating the forest from inside out but also gave this protected area its name. The area surrounding Kuno river has been rich in biodiversity since ancient times. Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh is one the most unique destination for all wildlife lovers and enthusiasts.

 

 

As soon as one ventures inside this park they experience the exclusive forest and one can see wildlife by the dozens foraging across vast meadows. Some grasslands here are bigger than most at Kanha or Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Thus Kuno National Park’s forest area is mainly dominated by Kardhai, Salai, Khair trees among mostly mixed forests, this also helps it in having a variety of species of flora and fauna. In all, a total of 123 species of trees , 71 species of shrubs , 32 species of climbers & exotic species, 34 species of bamboos and grasses, 33 species of mammals, 206 species of birds, 14 species of fishes, 33 species of reptiles and 10 species of amphibians are found in Kuno National Park. The main predators occurring in the protected area are jungle cat, sloth bear, dhole, Indian wolf, golden jackal, striped hyena, Bengal fox, ungulates include chital, sambar deer, nilgai, four-horned antelope, chinkara, blackbuck, wild boar and four charismatic cats - tigers, lions, cheetahs, and leopards.

 

 

Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1981 with an initial area of about 350 square kilometres which has become a National Park today. 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. Between 1998 and 2003, about 1650 inhabitants of 24 villages were resettled to sites outside the protected area. In 2009, Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary was also proposed as a possible site for Cheetah reintroduction in India. In December 2018 the state government changed the status of the wildlife sanctuary to Kuno National Park and enlarged the protected area by 750 square kilometres. The park lies within the larger Kuno Wildlife Division which has a total area of 1235 square kilometres.

 

 

In September 2022, five female and three male cheetahs aged 4 to 6 years will arrive from Namibia that will be introduced into the Kuno National Park. The introduction of cheetah in India is being done under Project Cheetah, which is the world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release cheetahs brought from Namibia in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park on Saturday 17 September as part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify the country's wildlife and habitat.

 

Kuno national Park is open to tourist throughout the year except for the monsoon period (1st July to 15th October). However, since the park falls in the tropical area and according to its vegetation and geographical conditions the best time to visit Kuno is October to March, with pleasant weather & comfortable stay.

 

 

Tourists can take a flight to Gwalior which is the nearest Airport to any of the three entrance gates of the Park – Tiktoli, Ahera, Peepal Bawadi. Gwalior, Kota and Jaipur cities have airports among which Jaipur has the best connectivity by flights to various parts of India. Similarly Gwalior, Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Jaipur and Jhansi are the nearest stations which provide rail connectivity to Kuno National park.