Palpur Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in Sheopur district of northwestern Madhya Pradesh, Palpur-Kuno wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of 345 sq km with an additional buffer of 900 sq km. Palpur-Kuno wildlife sanctuary was selected as the site for reintroducing the endangered species of Asiatic lions. Lions of this breed are being relocated from across the country to this sanctuary which was once home to hordes of these endangered lions.

Wildlife Institute of India and Wildlife Trust of India has shortlisted Palpur-Kuno wildlife sanctuary as one of the last remaining habitats of Cheetahs. It is also proposed to be one of the reintroduction sites of this species in India.

The terrain is hilly as the region comes under the Vindhya mountain range. The sanctuary portrays a terrain of central Indian highlands and is interspersed with meadows, grasslands and woodlands. River Kuno, a tributary of River Chambal, divides the sanctuary from north to south.

A number of streams drain the sanctuary and finally join the river Kuno. Basantpura, Khajuri, Kerkhoh, Lankakhoh, Durredi, Patrond and Bandia are the major streams. River Kuno is the life-line and the main source of water in the sanctuary.

Natural splendor at Palpur Kuno sanctuary

Black deer, bear, blue bull, bhura, blackbuck, barking deer, chital, chausingha, chinkara, fox, wild boar, hyena, golden orioles, panther, rollers, jangli murgi, jungle cat, monkey, cobra, langur, tigers, wild dogs, Indian monitor, lizards, snakes, chameleon, vipers, and a few more animals that are adapted to dry deciduous forests live here.

Numerous birds can be found here, to name a few, black drongo, sarus crane, bulbuls, babblers, lapwing, egrets, crow pheasant, herons, vultures, kites, great Indian bustard, etc can be spotted here. Migratory birds like lesser florican also visit this sanctuary.

As the place is a dry deciduous forest interspersed with grasslands, trees like Kullu, Kahua, Semal, Bahera, Tendu, Palas, Bel, Kardhai, Gurjan, Kher, Kusum, Gurjan, Mahua, Guner, Haldoo, Chind, Anwala, Harsingar, Chind, Satawar etc grow here.

Travel to Palpur Kuno sanctuary

This sanctuary is situated in Sheopur district, 15 km from the Sesaipura bus stand on the Shivpuri-Sheopur road. It can also be approached from Pohari, 25 km from the place. The sanctuary is situated in an isolated hill, sloping in all directions. The nearest railhead and airport is at Gwalior at a distance of 175 km from the sanctuary. You can plan Palpur Kuno trip along with Orchha and Jhansi.

When seen from a mountain top, the Palpur Kuno sanctuary appears like a leaf bitten at the edges. The river Kuno is the main water source in the region. But it faces acute scarcity during summer. There are forest rest houses within the sanctuary and plenty of accommodation outside the sanctuary as well. You can check out the PWD Rest Houses at Sesaipura and Vijaypur. There is a Forest Rest House at Palpur. The maximum temperature can reach up to 49 degree C while the lowest can dip up to 2 degree C.