View source for Biology:Bandhavgarh National Park

{{Short description|National park in Madhya Pradesh, India}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name                = Bandhavgarh National Park 
| alt_name            =
| iucn_category       = II
| photo               = Tigress in Bandhavgarh NP.jpg
| photo_alt           =
| photo_caption       = A tigress that is a descendant of tigress Sita and male Charger in Bandhavgarh
| photo_width         =
| map                 = India Madhya Pradesh# India 
| map_alt             =
| map_caption         =
| map_width           =
| location            = Madhya Pradesh, India
| nearest_city        = Umaria
| coordinates = {{coords|23|41|58|N|80|57|43|E|display=inline, title}}
| area_km2                = {{formatnum:1536}}
| established         = 1968<br />Tiger Reserve in 1993
| visitation_num      = {{formatnum:176051}}
| visitation_year     =2022
| governing_body      = Madhya Pradesh Forest Department
| world_heritage_site =
| url                 = [https://forest.mponline.gov.in/eBrochure/eBrochureDetails.aspx?parkid=1 forest.mponline.gov.in/]
|visitation_ref=<ref>{{cite web |title=15L tourists visited MP's 11 national parks till July |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/15l-tourists-visited-mps-11-national-parks-till-july/articleshow/94236068.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=7 April 2023 |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930124810/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/15l-tourists-visited-mps-11-national-parks-till-july/articleshow/94236068.cms |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

'''Bandhavgarh National Park''' is a national park of India, located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh, with an area of {{convert|105|km2}}, was declared a national park in 1968 and then became Tiger Reserve in 1993. The current core area is spread over {{convert|716|km2}}.

This park has a large [[Biology:Biodiversity|biodiversity]]. The park has a large breeding population of [[Biology:Leopard|leopard]]s, and various species of deer. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa captured the first [[Biology:White tiger|white tiger]] in this region in 1951. This white tiger, ''Mohan'', is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajas of Rewa. Historically villagers and their cattle have been at a threat from the tiger. Rising mining activities around the park are putting the tigers at risk. The park derives its name from the most prominent hill of the area, which is said to have been given by Lord [[Biology:Rama|Rama]] to his brother Lakshmana to keep a watch on [[Unsolved:Lanka|Lanka]] (Bandhav = Brother, Garh = Fort). The fort was built by a Gond Dynasty king. 

==Structure==
The three main zones of the national park are Tala, Magdhi and Khitauli. Tala is the richest zone in terms of biodiversity, mainly tigers. Altogether, these three ranges comprise the 'core' of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, constituting a total area of 716&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

==Fauna==
[[File:Tiger Paws.jpg|thumb|Tiger pawprints]]
[[File:Morning Gossip at Bandhavgarh (3495817329).jpg|thumb|A Hanuman langur]]

With the tiger at the [[Biology:Apex predator|apex]] of the food chain, it contains at least [https://www.bandhavgarh.net/flora-fauna/ 37 species of mammals]. According to forest officials, there are more than 250 species of birds, about 80 species of butterflies, a number of reptiles. But many people have the species' list of about 350 birds along with photographs. The richness and tranquity of grasslands invites pairs of sarus cranes to breed in the rainy season.

One of the biggest attractions of this national park is the [[Biology:Bengal tiger|Bengal tiger]] (''Panthera tigris tigris''). Bandhavgarh has a very high density of tigers within its jungles. The 105&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of park area open to tourists was reported to have 22 tigers, a density of one tiger for every 4.77&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. (Population estimation exercise 2001). The population of tigers in the park in 2012 was about 44–49. There is a saying about the Park that goes: "In any other Park, you are lucky if you see a tiger. In Bandhavgarh, you are unlucky if you don't see (at least) one." Bandhavgarh has one of the highest density of [[Biology:Tiger|tigers]] known in the world and is home to some well-known tigers which are large. Charger, a tiger so named because of his habit of charging at elephants and tourists (whom he nonetheless did not harm), was the first healthy male known to be living in Bandhavgarh since the 1990s, as well as a female known as Sita. Charger once appeared on the cover of ''National Geographic'' and is considered the second most photographed tiger in the world. Almost all the  [https://www.bandhavgarh.net/top-10-tigers-of-bandhavgarh/ tigers of Bandhavgarh] today are descendants of Sita and Charger. Their daughter Joita, sons Langru and B2 also maintained their tradition for frequent sighting and moving close to tourist vehicles. Mohini, another female, became prominent following Sita's death. She mated with the male tiger, Mahaman. She later died of her wounds from a vehicle accident. Charger died in 2000 and his body was buried at Charger Point where he was kept in a closed region at his old age. Between 2003 and 2006, many of his descendants met with a series of unfortunate ends. B1 was electrocuted and B3 was killed by poachers. Sita was killed by poachers too. After the death of Charger, the fully grown B2 survived as the dominant male in the forest between 2004 and 2007.  Mating with a female in the Siddhababa region of Bandhavgarh, he became father of three cubs. One of them was a male. He was named Bamera. He was first sighted in 2008 and is now Bandhavgarh's dominant male. In November 2011, B2 died. [[Postmortem studies]] suggest that he died a natural death. But some {{Who|date=July 2015}} claim that he was injured by the locals from the village in the buffer area. Now, the most prominent tiger in Tala zone of Bandhavgarh National Park is Bamera (died recently). However, of late{{When|date=July 2015}} he has been challenged on several occasions by a new male. Blue Eyes (died recently due to drug over dose) and Mukunda are the dominant males of Magdhi and Khitauli zone respectively. The females who are seen more frequently are Rajbehra, Mirchaini, Banbehi, Mahaman, Sukhi Pattiya and Damdama. There are quite a few cubs also who are either in sub-adult stage or have entered adulthood and are separate now.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

[[File:Brown Fish Owl; Ketupa zeylonensis.jpg|thumbnail|Brown fish owl at Bandhavgarh.]]
The reserve is also densely populated with other species: the [[Biology:Gaur|gaur]] or Indian bison (''Bos gaurus gaurus''), are now extinct or have migrated elsewhere; sambar and barking deer are a common sight, and [[Biology:Nilgai|nilgai]] are to be seen in the open areas of the park. There have been reports of the Indian wolf (''Canis lupus pallipes''), [[Biology:Striped hyena|striped hyena]] (''Hyaena hyaena hyaena'') and the [[Biology:Caracal|caracal]] (''Caracal caracal schmitzi'') the latter being an exclusive open area dweller. The tiger reserve abounds with [[Biology:Chital|chital]] or the spotted deer (''Axis axis'') which is the main prey animal of the tiger and the [[Biology:Indian leopard|Indian leopard]] (''Panthera pardus fusca''). The Indian bison were reintroduced from Kanha.

===Reintroduction of gaur===
Bandhavgarh National Park had a small population of gaur, but due to disease passed from cattle to them, all of them died. The project of reintroduction of gaurs dealt with shifting some gaurs from Kanha National Park to Bandhavgarh. 50 animals were shifted by the winter of 2012. This project was executed by Madhya Pradesh Forest department, Wildlife Institute of India and Taj Safaris by technical collaboration.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mpforest.org/wildlife/wing%20website%20final1_files/Page2497.htm |title=Reintroduction of Gaur (Indian Bison) in Bandhavgarh National Park |access-date=2012-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303034521/http://mpforest.org/wildlife/wing%20website%20final1_files/Page2497.htm |archive-date=2013-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Transportation==
Bandavgarh National Park is roughly 4.5hrs (~200kms) drive from the nearest major city, Jabalpur. Jabalpur is very well connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Indore via air travel.
Bandhavgarh does not have the airport facility for mainstream flights, but Jabalpur city, which is the nearest city to Bandhavgarh, has good air connectivity with major cities of India. Private charters can land near Bandhavgarh National Park, Umaria district also has a small air-strip facility for charter planes. Jabalpur Airport (199&nbsp;km/04:30hrs) is the best option to reach Bandhavgarh National Park as it is connected to:  [[Place:Delhi|Delhi]], {{wipe|Mumbai}}, Bangalore, [[Place:Kolkata|Kolkata]], [[Place:Hyderabad|Hyderabad]],  and Bhopal, with these airline options AirIndia, SpiceJet & IndiGo.
===Train===
Travel by train is another good option. Travel to Umaria station by train and hire a cab or taxi to the National Park.

==Birds==
Some of the typical and peculiar birds found in Bandhavgarh national park are

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Biology:Plum-headed parakeet|Plum-headed parakeet]]
*Green-headed barbet
*[[Biology:Orange-headed thrush|Orange-headed thrush]]
*[[Biology:Brown-headed barbet|Brown-headed barbet]]
*[[Biology:Coppersmith barbet|Coppersmith barbet]]
*[[Biology:Common myna|Common myna]]
*[[Biology:Alexandrine parakeet|Alexandrine parakeet]]
*[[Biology:Indian grey hornbill|Indian grey hornbill]]
*Rock pigeon
*[[Biology:House crow|House crow]]
*[[Biology:Carrion crow|Carrion crow]]
*[[Biology:Little egret|Little egret]]
*[[Biology:Cattle egret|Cattle egret]]
*Great egret
*Black drongo
*[[Biology:Pond heron|Pond heron]]
*[[Biology:Common snipe|Common snipe]]
*[[Biology:Black-winged stilt|Black-winged stilt]]
*[[Biology:Red-wattled lapwing|Red-wattled lapwing]]
*Indian peafowl
*[[Biology:Greater coucal|Greater coucal]]
*Oriental magpie robin
*[[Biology:Indian roller|Indian roller]]
*[[Biology:Indian robin|Indian robin]]
*[[Biology:Eurasian collared dove|Eurasian collared dove]]
*[[Biology:Hoopoe|Hoopoe]]
*[[Biology:Sirkeer malkoha|Sirkeer malkoha]]
*[[Biology:Large-billed crow|Large-billed crow]]
*White-browed fantail flycatcher
*[[Biology:Yellow-crowned woodpecker|Yellow-crowned woodpecker]]
*[[Biology:Rufous treepie|Rufous treepie]] (normal and pallida)
*[[Biology:Lesser adjutant|Lesser adjutant stork]]
*Oriental white eye
*[[Biology:Olive-backed pipit|Olive-backed pipit]]
*[[Biology:Spotted dove|Spotted dove]]
*White-throated kingfisher
*[[Biology:Red-rumped swallow|Red-rumped swallow]]
*Lesser whistling teal
*[[Biology:Common kingfisher|Common kingfisher]]
*[[Biology:Black stork|Black stork]]
*[[Biology:Asian green bee-eater|Asian green bee-eater]]
*Greater racket-tailed drongo
*[[Biology:Red-vented bulbul|Red-vented bulbul]]
*Long-billed vulture
*[[Biology:Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker|Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker]]
*Chestnut-shouldered petronia
*[[Biology:Crested serpent eagle|Crested serpent eagle]]
*[[Biology:Black redstart|Black redstart]]
*[[Biology:Brahminy starling|Brahminy starling]]
*[[Biology:Brown fish owl|Brown fish owl]]
*[[Biology:Yellow-footed green pigeon|Yellow-footed green pigeon]]
*[[Biology:Malabar pied hornbill|Malabar pied hornbill]]
*Common kestrel
*[[Biology:White-throated fantail|White-throated fantail]] flycatcher
*[[Biology:Rufous woodpecker|Rufous woodpecker]]
*[[Biology:Sapphire flycatcher|Sapphire flycatcher]]
*Crested hawk eagle (Cirrhatus)
*[[Biology:Oriental turtle dove|Oriental turtle dove]]
*[[Biology:White-rumped vulture|White-rumped vulture]]
*[[Biology:Lesser kestrel|Lesser kestrel]]
*[[Biology:Large cuckooshrike|Large cuckooshrike]]
*Pied bushchat
*Black-winged cuckooshrike
*[[Biology:Black-rumped flameback|Black-rumped flameback]] woodpecker
*[[Biology:House sparrow|House sparrow]]
*Golden oriole
*[[Biology:Rose-ringed parakeet|Rose-ringed parakeet]]
*[[Biology:Paddyfield pipit|Paddyfield pipit]]
*[[Biology:Dusky crag martin|Dusky crag martin]]
*[[Biology:Long-tailed shrike|Long-tailed shrike]]
*Black ibis
*White-necked stork
*[[Biology:Purple sunbird|Purple sunbird]]
*Giant leafbird
*Tickell's flowerpecker
*[[Biology:Little cormorant|Little cormorant]]
*Little brown dove
*[[Biology:White-tailed swallow|White-tailed swallow]]
*[[Biology:Jungle babbler|Jungle babbler]]
*[[Biology:Shikra|Shikra]]
*[[Biology:Jungle myna|Jungle myna]]
*[[Biology:Common tailorbird|Common tailorbird]]
*[[Biology:Red collared dove|Red collared dove]]
*Red-necked vulture
*[[Biology:Painted francolin|Painted francolin]]
*Eurasian thick-knee
*[[Biology:Common sandpiper|Common sandpiper]]
*Lesser spotted eagle
*Greater whistling teal
*[[Biology:Great cormorant|Great cormorant]]
*[[Biology:Pied kingfisher|Pied kingfisher]]
*[[Biology:Laughing dove|Laughing dove]]
*Bonelli's eagle
*Dark black crow
*Asian pied starling
*Asian Duck
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* Arid Forest Research Institute
* Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Aqeel Farooqi: A Tribute to Charger [http://www.wildlifeofindia.com/artcharger.htm]
* L.K.Chaudhari & Safi Akhtar Khan: Bandhavgarh-Fort of the Tiger, Wild Atlas Books, Bhopal, 2003
* Shahbaz Ahmad: Charger: The Long Living Tiger, Print World, Allahabad, 2001 {{Listed Invalid ISBN|8177380003 }}
* W.A.Rodgers, H.S.Panwar and V.B.Mathur: Wildlife Protected Area Network in India: A review, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2000
* Captain J.Forsyth: The Highlands of Central India, Natraj Publishers, Dehradun, 1994. [https://archive.org/details/highlandsofcentr00forsrich]

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage-inline|Bandhavgarh}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130131171338/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2912/stories/20120629291206400.htm In tiger territory], A.J.T.Johnsingh and Dhananjai Mohan 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080330234258/http://projecttiger.nic.in/bandhavgarh.htm Bandhavgarh- Project Tiger] 
* [http://wwwuser.gwdg.de/~symp2002/pdf/58_Forest_Sawhney.pdf Forest resource use by people in Protected Areas and its implications for biodiversity conservation: The case of Bandhavgarh National Park in India]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071006095123/http://www.wildlifetimes.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=246 Wildlife Times: The Central Indian Tiger Pilgrimage - A trip report] 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170803164845/http://projecttiger.nic.in/Ntcamap/108_1_24_mapdetails.aspx Map and details of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Project Tiger website]


[[Category:Animal reintroduction]]

{{Sourceattribution|Bandhavgarh National Park}}