Van Vihar National Park is a national park in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Declared a national park in 1979, it covers an area of about 4.45 km2. It has the status of a national park, but is developed and managed as a modern zoological park, following the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority. Animals are kept in near natural habitats. Most animals are either orphaned and brought from various parts of the state or are exchanged from other zoos. No animal is deliberately captured from the forest.[1] Van Vihar is unique because visitors access it from a road through the park, and trenches, walls, and chain-link fencing protect the animals from poachers while providing natural habitat.
In the mid twentieth century a number of illegal stone quarries were operational in the area and, being in a serene and beautiful location on the bank of big lake, many commercial organizations were trying to take hold of this valuable piece of land. Realizing the importance of both in-situ and ex-situ conservation of wild fauna, it was decided to provide this area with a legal umbrella under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. A committee of experts was constituted to decide how to make Van Vihar a protected area. In 1983, on the committee's recommendation, the government declared an area of 4.4521 km2 a national park. Out of the 4.4521 km2 of land, an area 3.8839 km2 was government owned land and the rest belonged to the villagers of Prempura, Dharampuri and Amkheda. Compensation of Rs. 23.52 lakhs was paid to villagers to acquire 0.5692 km2 of private holdings. After the constitution of the National Park, the acquired area was enclosed in with stone walls and chain link fences.
The first technical document known as the Management Plan to manage the Van Vihar was written in the year 2000 (for a period of 10 years from 2000 to 2010), by Jagdish Chandra, IFS, & Ex-Director of Van Vihar. Efforts of staunch protection and habitat improvement measures resulted in its enrichment in a very short period of time.[2]
Van Vihar at Sunset
The degraded hillock of Shyamla Hill along with private village land was initiated in 1980 and finally notified as a national park in 1983. Funding from the Central Zoo Authority started in 1993-94 and also granted Van Vihar as a medium sized zoo on the same year. With the dedicated efforts of the park management, the area has now been transformed into an oasis of greenery. The area today serves as the green lung for Bhopal City.[1]
Biodiversity
Indian leopard
Van Vihar categorises animals in two categories, captive and herbivores. All carnivorous animals are kept inside enclosed areas and herbivores are allowed to roam freely.
The wilderness of park offers an ideal habitat for a number of avian fauna. Till now about two hundred species of birds have been listed in different parts of Van Vihar.[3] Large number of birds frequent this park, especially during winter the migratory waterfowl alight in great numbers in the adjoining extensive wetland of big lake. In the 2010s, the park developed a vulture breeding centre, which initially focused on restoring populations of white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), and long billed vultures (G. indicus).[4]
Administration
The park is maintained by the Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh. The park administration is headed by a director of the rank of chief conservator of forests and assisted by one assistant director, 3 range officers, 3 deputy-rangers, 4 foresters and 24 forest guards. In addition to these, persons are engaged on daily wage basis, to meet the day-to-day requirement of the animal care and management. Van Vihar administration is promoting cycling in the park; bicycles can be rented inside park gates at either end of the park. Van Vihar is closed on Fridays.
^ abc. Van Vihar National Park. 2007. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
^. Bhopal, India: Van Vihar National Park. 2007. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
^. Archived from the original on 4 December 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
^"Kerwa breeding centre to get another 50 pairs of vultures". The Times of India. 20 May 2014. from the original on 21 May 2014.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Van Vihar National Park.
Patna zoo lion Sheru to roar at Van Vihar
March 08, 2023
vihar, national, park, national, park, bhopal, capital, city, madhya, pradesh, central, india, declared, national, park, 1979, covers, area, about, status, national, park, developed, managed, modern, zoological, park, following, guidelines, central, authority,. Van Vihar National Park is a national park in Bhopal the capital city of Madhya Pradesh in central India Declared a national park in 1979 it covers an area of about 4 45 km2 It has the status of a national park but is developed and managed as a modern zoological park following the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority Animals are kept in near natural habitats Most animals are either orphaned and brought from various parts of the state or are exchanged from other zoos No animal is deliberately captured from the forest 1 Van Vihar is unique because visitors access it from a road through the park and trenches walls and chain link fencing protect the animals from poachers while providing natural habitat Van Vihar National ParkIUCN category II national park Gharial at Van ViharLocationMadhya Pradesh IndiaNearest cityBhopalCoordinates23 13 48 N 77 21 59 E 23 23000 N 77 36639 E 23 23000 77 36639 Coordinates 23 13 48 N 77 21 59 E 23 23000 N 77 36639 E 23 23000 77 36639Area4 48 km2 1 73 sq mi Established18 Feb 1979Visitors2 50 000 1 Governing bodyMadhya Pradesh Forest Department Contents 1 History 2 Biodiversity 2 1 Captive fauna 2 2 Herbivores 2 3 Avian fauna 3 Administration 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditIn the mid twentieth century a number of illegal stone quarries were operational in the area and being in a serene and beautiful location on the bank of big lake many commercial organizations were trying to take hold of this valuable piece of land Realizing the importance of both in situ and ex situ conservation of wild fauna it was decided to provide this area with a legal umbrella under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 A committee of experts was constituted to decide how to make Van Vihar a protected area In 1983 on the committee s recommendation the government declared an area of 4 4521 km2 a national park Out of the 4 4521 km2 of land an area 3 8839 km2 was government owned land and the rest belonged to the villagers of Prempura Dharampuri and Amkheda Compensation of Rs 23 52 lakhs was paid to villagers to acquire 0 5692 km2 of private holdings After the constitution of the National Park the acquired area was enclosed in with stone walls and chain link fences The first technical document known as the Management Plan to manage the Van Vihar was written in the year 2000 for a period of 10 years from 2000 to 2010 by Jagdish Chandra IFS amp Ex Director of Van Vihar Efforts of staunch protection and habitat improvement measures resulted in its enrichment in a very short period of time 2 Van Vihar at Sunset The degraded hillock of Shyamla Hill along with private village land was initiated in 1980 and finally notified as a national park in 1983 Funding from the Central Zoo Authority started in 1993 94 and also granted Van Vihar as a medium sized zoo on the same year With the dedicated efforts of the park management the area has now been transformed into an oasis of greenery The area today serves as the green lung for Bhopal City 1 Biodiversity Edit Indian leopard Van Vihar categorises animals in two categories captive and herbivores All carnivorous animals are kept inside enclosed areas and herbivores are allowed to roam freely Captive fauna Edit The animals such as the Bengal tiger Asiatic lion Asiatic wildcat Indian wolf Sloth bear Red fox Indian jackal wild dog mongoose striped hyena mugger crocodile gharial and snakes such as the python are kept in captivity in a system of kraal and enclosures in lines of modern concept of zoo management as per the norms of Central Zoo Authority All felids and hyenas are fed with buffalo meat mutton and poultry Bears are provided with milk vegetables and fruits to make a balanced diet Herbivores Edit Chital Chital sambar blackbuck nilgai four horned antelope wild boar porcupine hare Rhesus macaque common langur are ranging freely Normally the grass and other plant species growing in Van Vihar are sufficient for these herbivores However in summer when the grass is scarce green fodder produced in the fodder farm and wheat husk procured from the market is provided as a supplement In its ponds Indian star tortoise turtles and a variety of fish occur Van Vihar also preserves animals belonging to endangered species citation needed Avian fauna Edit Cinnamon bittern The wilderness of park offers an ideal habitat for a number of avian fauna Till now about two hundred species of birds have been listed in different parts of Van Vihar 3 Large number of birds frequent this park especially during winter the migratory waterfowl alight in great numbers in the adjoining extensive wetland of big lake In the 2010s the park developed a vulture breeding centre which initially focused on restoring populations of white rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis and long billed vultures G indicus 4 Administration EditThe park is maintained by the Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh The park administration is headed by a director of the rank of chief conservator of forests and assisted by one assistant director 3 range officers 3 deputy rangers 4 foresters and 24 forest guards In addition to these persons are engaged on daily wage basis to meet the day to day requirement of the animal care and management Van Vihar administration is promoting cycling in the park bicycles can be rented inside park gates at either end of the park Van Vihar is closed on Fridays See also EditWildlife of India Wildlife of South AsiaReferences Edit a b c Van Vihar National Park an Introduction Van Vihar National Park 2007 Archived from the original on 23 March 2012 History Peep into the Past Bhopal India Van Vihar National Park 2007 Archived from the original on 23 March 2012 Van Vihar National Park A Rich Birding Spot Archived from the original on 4 December 2011 Retrieved 8 November 2011 Kerwa breeding centre to get another 50 pairs of vultures The Times of India 20 May 2014 Archived from the original on 21 May 2014 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Van Vihar National Park Map of Van Vihar National Park Patna zoo lion Sheru to roar at Van Vihar Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Van Vihar National Park amp oldid 1140086953, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
