Kuna National Park

About Kuna National Park

• Location:
  • It is located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
  • It is nestled near the Vindhyan Hills.
• It is named after the Kuno River (one of the main tributaries of the Chambal River) that cuts across it.
• Initially established as a wildlife sanctuary, it was only in 2018 that the government changed its status into a national park.
• It was selected under ‘Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India’. It has gained international recognition for conservation and restoration because of the recent reintroduction of cheetahs.
• Vegetation: The vegetation in the park varies from tropical dry deciduous forest to savannah grasslands. 
• Landscape: It is characterized by rocky hills, ravines, and plateaus.
• Flora: Kardhai, Salai, and Khair trees dominate the forested area.
• Fauna:
  • 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.
  • It is known for its population of Asiatic lions, which were translocated from Gir National Park in Gujarat in 2021 as part of a conservation effort to establish a second population of the species.

Q1) What is a ravine?

It is a small narrow steep-sided valley that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon and that is usually worn by running water.

Source: Namibian cheetah Aasha gives birth to 3 cubs in Kuno; ‘indicator that animals are acclimatising’