Recently, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said that Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary will become the third home for cheetahs in the state.

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said that Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary will become the third home for cheetahs in the state.

About Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Madhya Pradesh, India, is the largest wildlife sanctuary in the state, covering an area of nearly 1,197 square kilometers. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1975 and was recently designated as part of the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. 

Key Features

• Location: The sanctuary spans across the districts of Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur, situated on a plateau that forms part of the upper Vindhyan range.
• River Basins: A unique geographical feature is that the sanctuary encompasses two major river basins: three-fourths of the area falls within the Ganges (Yamuna) basin, and one-fourth in the Narmada basin.
• Wildlife Corridor: It serves as a vital wildlife corridor, connecting the Panna Tiger Reserve, Satpura Tiger Reserve, and indirectly the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve through the Rani Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Vegetation: The forest type is primarily dry mixed deciduous, with dominant trees including teak, saja, dhawda, and tendu. 

Fauna and Flora
Nauradehi is known for its rich biodiversity and is a prominent location for the conservation of the Indian wolf, which is considered the keystone species of the sanctuary. 
Notable Fauna:

• Carnivores: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian wolf, striped hyena, wild dog (dhole), sloth bear, and Bengal fox.
• Herbivores: Nilgai (blue bull), chinkara (Indian gazelle), chital (spotted deer), sambar, blackbuck, four-horned antelope (chousingha), and wild boar.
• Reptiles: Freshwater turtles, monitor lizards, and mugger crocodiles (found in the Bamner river and Chakai Kunda Nala).
• Birds: Over 150 species of birds, including various eagles, vultures (like the white-rumped and long-billed vultures), storks, cranes, and owls. 

Flora: Teak, Saja, Dhaora, Bhirra, Ber, Bel, Mahua, Tendu, Gunja and Amla etc.

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