Wildlife Sanctuaries in Central India

The old mountains ranges of Vindhya , Satpura , and Aravalli make up much of Central India. There are 35 wildlife Sanctuaries in Central India covering the states of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. These are home to a vast number of remarkable species of flora and fauna. The forests are also heritage sites as they have many old palaces and temples in them. The lakes and water holes in these parks offer plenty of opportunity for animal sightings. The sanctuaries of Central India do not have a dense tree cover as their North Indian counterparts. This makes it relatively easier to sight elusive creatures like tigers and leopards. Achanakmar , Badalkhol , Barnawapara ,Bhairamgarh ,Bori , Pameda and Sanjay Dubri are some of the important wildlife sanctuaries in Central India.

Fauna
A large number of mammals, reptiles and bird species have been identified in the wildlife Sanctuaries in Central India. These include Tiger, Leopard, Nilgai, Caracal, Langur, Common Mongoose, Palm Civet, Common Yellow Bat, Desert Cat, Palm Squirrel, Indian Flying Fox, Indian Fox, Chinkara, Indian Gerbil, Indian Porcupine, Indian Wild Boar, Jungle Cat, Long-eared Hedgehog, Sambar, Sloth Bear, Small Indian Mongoose, Spotted Dear or Chital, Striped Hyena and Marsh Crocodile. The white tiger is also found in some of these sanctuaries.

The sanctuaries are also known for their impressive bird population. Close to 300 bird species have been identified in these forests. The major birds found here include Goose, Woodpeckers, Indian Gray Hornbills, Common Kingfishers, Bee Eaters, Cuckoos, Parakeets, Flamingos, Asian Palm Swift, Owl, Nightjars, Pigeon, Dove, Crakes, Snipes, Sandpipers, Gulls, Terns, Great Crested Grebe, Eagles, , Egrets, Herons, Pelicans, Storks,

Flora
The flora of Central India mainly consists of moist deciduous forests with bamboo thickets, grasslands and mixed forests. Sal is the dominant species. Many fruit bearing trees, exotic flowering plants and plants with medicinal properties are also found in the sanctuaries of Central India.

Conservation
Conservation efforts in the wildlife sanctuaries of Central India have resulted in a steady improvement in the status of the endangered tiger and other big cats. At present there are 5 project tiger areas in Central India. Efforts are being made to introduce Asiatic lions in the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary. The efforts have definitely had a positive impact on wildlife in Central India.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Central India
Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary	Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuary
Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary	Bhairamgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary	Bori Wildlife Sanctuary
Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary	Guru Ghasidas National Park
Indravati National Park	Pameda Wildlife Sanctuary
Sanjay Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary	Semarsot Tamor Pingala
Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary	Virgin Kurschel Wildlife Sanctuary