Madhav National Park: Madhya Pradesh Gets India's 58th Tiger Reserve

Do you enjoy exploring India’s national parks? Are you fascinated by tigers and love the thrill of spotting these large cats? If yes, get ready for some exciting news! India has officially welcomed its 58th Tiger Reserve, located in Madhya Pradesh, which is now home to the state’s 9th tiger reserve. This announcement was made by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday, March 9, 2025, designating Madhav National Park as the country’s newest tiger reserve.

Madhav National Park, encompassing an area of 165.32 square kilometers, was established as the first national park in Madhya Pradesh in 1956 under the Madhya Pradesh National Parks Act of 1955. Over time, the park's boundaries have been expanded, and it is now recognized as the Madhav Tiger Reserve with a core area of 354 square kilometers.

Interestingly, this park did not host a tiger population until 2023, when three female and male tigers were relocated to the area. Notably, one of the tigresses has since given birth to two cubs, bringing the total tiger population to five. On March 10, an additional tigress was introduced from Panna National Park, with plans to introduce another male tiger soon, which would increase the total to seven.

Located near Shivpuri town, the forest department has built a 9-foot-tall, 14-kilometer-long wall to separate the wildlife in the park from the surrounding human population. This is the first reserve in Madhya Pradesh to be situated adjacent to human settlements. More information regarding bookings and other details will be out soon, stay tuned!