Kuno National Park:
Five cheetahs were released into the wild in Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district recently.
- Kuno National Park is located in the Morena and Sheopur districts in Madhya Pradesh.
- It is nestled near the Vindhyan Hills.
- It covers an area of 750 sq.km.
- It derives its name from the meandering Kuno River (one of the tributaries of the Chambal River) that graces the region.
- Initially established as a wildlife sanctuary, it was in 2018 that the government changed its status into a national park.
- It was selected under ‘Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India’.
- Kuno is primarily a grassland region, though a few rocky outcrops are found here too.
- Kardhai, Salai and Khair trees dominate the forested area of Kuno National Park, which is mostly mixed forest.
- The park has a total of 123 tree species, 71 shrub species, 32 exotic and climbing species, and 34 bamboo and grass species.
- The protected area of the forest is home to the jungle cat, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox, and dhole, along with more than 120 bird species.
