Wildlife Tourism in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Tourism has been awarded the “Best Indian Destination for Wildlife” this year by the Lonely Planet Group. The award was handed over to Madhya Pradesh Tourism at a function in Mumbai by actress Amy Jackson. Madhya Pradesh has 25 wild life sanctuaries including nine National Parks. Among them Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench are world renowned ideal habitats for Indian tigers. Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board is well known for its creative promotion adds. It has put Madhya Pradesh on tourism map well with its efforts.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism has launched number of programmes for the conservation of flora and fauna in the state because of which Kanha and Pench were considered as the most beautiful national parks in Asia. Other hand Bandhavgarh and Pench are known world over because of tiger reserves.

Wildlife Tourism in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is one of the most important states of the country as for conservation of wildlife and biodiversity is concerned. The state has had a long history of conservation. Parts of the present Kanha National Park were declared a wildlife sanctuary way back in 1935 while the State enacted its very own MP National Parks Act in 1955. The Kanha National Park, Madhav National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park were originally constituted under this Act in 1955, 1956 and 1969, respectively, and were enlarged later to bring them to their current size. In tune with the awakened national consciousness towards conservation of flora and fauna, since the 1970s, the state government began setting up a network of protected areas (national parks and wildlife sanctuaries) under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. There are now 9 National Parks and 25 Sanctuaries spread over an area of 10,900 sq. km constituting approximately 11.40% of the total forest area and 3.52% of the geographical area of the state.

Wildlife Tourism is the most visible management activity in the well known protected areas. People visit protected areas to see wild animals and to enjoy the natural beauty of the forests, rivers and mountains. Tourism in the protected areas in MP has been growing almost at the rate of 10% per year. More tourism is not really better for conservation. Wildlife tourism has advantages as well as disadvantages. While tourism can generate jobs and business opportunities for the local people who suffer serious restrictions on their livelihoods due to denial of access to the natural resources, tourists also act as extra ears and eyes for the forest management to detect illegal activities or animals in distress. However, tourism also inconveniences wild animals, tourism infrastructure destroys wildlife habitats and corridors. Too many tourists spoil the serenity of the forests and may generate a lot of garbage that, sometimes, can be dangerous to animals. At least two tigers have been killed in accidents with tourist vehicles in Bandhavgarh national park in the recent past.

Did You Know more about Madhya Pradesh?

• Madhya Pradesh is situated in the central region of India and that’s why it is called the Heartland State (Hindustan Ka Dil). It has the largest reserves of diamond and copper in India as Madhya Pradesh is rich in mineral resources.
• Madhya Pradesh is known as the “Heart of India” because of its geographical location. Literally meaning of Madhya Pradesh is “Central Province”.
• Madhya Pradesh experiences sub-tropical climate. Hot dry summer is from April to June and Monsoon Rains are from July to September.
• In Madhya Pradesh, mostly are Hinduism with around 92% and the remaining 8% are Muslim, Jain, Christian, Sikhs and Buddhists.