Nauradehi and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuaries

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About Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary:

Location: It covers nearly 1197 km² area across three districts, i.e. Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur, of Madhya Pradesh.
It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
The entire Sanctuary is situated on a plateau, forming part of the upper Vindhyan range and has a connecting forest patch with Veerangana Durgawati Sanctuary in Damoh district towards the east, which extends up to Bandhavgarh National Park.
The Sanctuary is classified under Deccan peninsula biogeographic region.
Three fourth of sanctuary falls in the Yamuna, and one-fourth of the sanctuary falls in the Naramada basin.
Wildlife Corridor: It acts as a corridor for Panna Tiger Reserve and Satpura Tiger Reserve while indirectly connecting Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve via Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuary.
Vegetation: Dry deciduous type
Flora: The chief floral elements include Teak, Saja, Dhaora, Bhirra, Ber, Amla etc.
Fauna: The chief faunal element includes Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, Sambhar, Black Buck, Barking deer, Commom Langur Rhesus Macaque, Fresh water Turtles, Spotted Grey Creeper, Cranes, Egrets, Lapwings etc.

About Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary:

Location: Rani Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh.
It is named after Rani Durgavati, a queen of the Gond people.
The sanctuary was notified by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1996.
The Singorgarh Fort is located within the sanctuary
Vegetation: The vegetation is predominantly tropical mixed dry deciduous forest.
Flora: Pterocarpus marsupium, Terminalia alata, Anogeissus latifolia, Madhuca indica, Butea monosperma, and Lagerstroemia parviflora are the most common trees in the sanctuary.
Fauna:
- It hosts 18 species of mammals, including the leopard, wolf, jackal, Indian fox, striped hyena, and sloth bear.
- Besides these, the sanctuary is also home to 177 species of birds, 16 species of fish and reptiles, and 10 species of amphibians.

Q1) What is a Wildlife Sanctuary?

A Wildlife Sanctuary can be termed as a large geographical piece of land, usually forested, where animals are kept in their natural habitats. The primary purpose of designating areas as a Wildlife Sanctuary is to provide a shelter or refuge to the animals so that they can live and thrive in their natural homes.

Source: MP govt to club Nauradehi & Durgavati sanctuaries to create state’s 7th tiger reserve