Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary, Location, Flora, Fauna, Map

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary is an important protected forest located in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. It was established in 1975 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. In 2009, it became a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger. The sanctuary forms the core of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, which was notified in 2005 and included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves on 11 July 2012. It is one of the three tiger reserves in Chhattisgarh and plays a major role in conserving central India’s forest ecosystem.

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary Features

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its strategic location, rich forest landscape, tiger corridors, river systems and strong conservation importance.

• Location: The sanctuary extends across Mungeli district in Chhattisgarh and Anuppur and Dindori districts in Madhya Pradesh. 
• Area: It covers about 557.55 sq km of forest and lies around 50 km north of Mungeli near Amarkantak.
• Legal Status: It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1975 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. 
• Tiger Reserve: In 2009, it received Tiger Reserve status under Project Tiger, strengthening tiger conservation in central India.
• Biosphere Reserve: The sanctuary forms the 551.55 sq km core zone of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. The remaining 3,284.36 sq km serves as the buffer area across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Tiger Corridor: Achanakmar is connected to Kanha Tiger Reserve through the Kanha-Achanakmar Corridor. It also supports tiger movement towards Bandhavgarh, making it an important wildlife dispersal route in central India.
• River System: The Maniyari River flows through the centre of the reserve and supports wildlife throughout the year. The sanctuary is also located close to the origin of the Narmada and Son rivers near Amarkantak.
• Landscape and Geography: The sanctuary lies within the Maikal Hills of the Satpura region. The surrounding biosphere reserve includes parts of the Vindhya and Satpura ranges and forms a watershed between the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal river systems.
• Tribal Communities: The reserve is home to Baiga, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), along with Gond and Yadav communities. Their traditional knowledge has long supported sustainable use of forest resources.
• Conservation Importance: The biosphere reserve includes 416 villages and two urban settlements. Conservation efforts focus on reducing pressure from resource exploitation, protecting biodiversity, controlling invasive weeds and preventing river pollution.

Also Read: Tribes of Madhya Pradesh

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary Biodiversity

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary supports tropical moist deciduous forests with exceptional plant and animal diversity, making it one of central India’s significant biodiversity landscapes.

• Forest Ecology: Tropical moist deciduous forests dominate the sanctuary. The region supports healthy wildlife habitats because of dense vegetation, perennial rivers and continuous forest connectivity with neighbouring protected areas.
• Rich Flora: Major tree species include Sal, Saja, Bija, Haldu, Teak, Tinsa, Dhawara, Lendia, Khamar and Bamboo. More than 600 medicinal plant species have also been recorded from the reserve.
• Large Mammals: The sanctuary shelters Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, gaur, elephant, sloth bear, striped hyena, dhole, Indian jackal, wild boar, nilgai, chital, sambar, four horned antelope, chinkara, Indian muntjac, flying squirrel and Indian giant squirrel.
• Wildlife Population: The 2004 wildlife census recorded 26 tigers, 46 leopards, 28 bears, 1,936 chital, 1,369 sambar, 376 barking deer and 552 gaur, demonstrating the sanctuary’s rich herbivore and predator population.
• Ecological Significance: The sanctuary maintains habitat connectivity across central India, supports genetic exchange among tiger populations, protects diverse ecosystems and strengthens long term conservation of forests, wildlife and river catchments.

Also Read: Tribes of Chhattisgarh

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