Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary Explained

Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary
Iucn Category:IV
Photo Alt:Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary Area, Dewas
Map:India Madhya Pradesh
Relief:yes
Map Alt:Kheoni wildlife sanctuary (location within Madhya Pradesh)
Label:Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary
Mark:Green pog.svg
Location:Dewas district and Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh, India
Nearest City:Kannod
Coordinates:22.8373°N 76.8765°W
Coords Ref:[1]
Area:134.778km2[2]
Established:1974
Governing Body:Forest Department, Madhya Pradesh

Kheoni is a wildlife sanctuary[3] located in Kannod Tehsil of Dewas district and parts of the Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh.[4] It is spread over 132 square kilometers. It is connected to Ratapani Tiger Reserve through corridors. The dry deciduous forest consists of teak, tendu and bamboo.

It has a presence of tigers,[5] [6] which have apparently migrated from Ratapani and colonized Kheoni. Leopards are present in significant numbers. Other commonly found carnivores are jungle cats, jackals and striped hyena. The dominant herbivore species are nilgai, blackbuck, chinkara and chital (spotted deer). Sambar, wild boar, barking deer, four-horned antelope, and palm civet are also present, but rarely sighted.

According to a bird survey done in April 2018, Kheoni has around 125 species of birds, including the state bird of Madhya Pradesh, the Indian paradise flycatcher.[7] Other birds in abundance are plum-headed parakeet, Eurasian collared dove, laughing dove, chestnut shouldered petronia, common crow and black drongo.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kheoni . protectedplanet.net.
  2. Web site: List of Wildlife Sanctuaries (as on December 2020) . 22 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Protected Area Gazette Notification Database (Madhya Pradesh). 22 December 2021.
  4. Web site: Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary . WildTrails Recent Sightings.
  5. Web site: Tigers Spotted for First Time in Madhya Pradesh's Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary . . 24 June 2019 . . 2 October 2021.
  6. Web site: tigers at dewas' kheoni sanctuary: MP: 5 tigers spotted in Dewas' Kheoni sanctuary . 24 June 2019 . TNN . . 16 January 2022.
  7. News: 9 April 2018 . Four new species found in first Malwa bird count . Times of India.