Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that there are immense possibilities of wildlife tourism in Madhya Pradesh and the government is working with determination for the conservation of forests, environment and aquatic animals including wildlife. Taking one more step towards wildlife conservation, now two new wildlife sanctuaries will be established in the state. These new wildlife sanctuaries will be established in Omkareshwar and Jahangarh.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav approved the establishment of two new wildlife sanctuaries during the 28th meeting of the Madhya Pradesh State Wildlife Board at Samatva Bhavan (Chief Minister's residence) on Thursday. He highlighted the positive outcomes of the government's conservation efforts, noting the increasing populations of tigers, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and gharials, along with the remarkable growth in the number of endangered vultures. According to the latest vulture census conducted from 17 to 19 February 2025, Madhya Pradesh recorded 12,981 vultures, reflecting a 19% increase in the past year alone. He announced that the Omkareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary will be developed across approximately 614.07 sq. km in the Dewas-Khandwa district, while the Jahangarh Wildlife Sanctuary will be established in 6.328 sq. km of forest area in Sheopur district.
Minister of State for Forest and Environment Dilip Ahirwar, Wildlife Board member MLA Hemant Khandelwal, Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary in Chief Minister's Office Rajesh Rajoura, Additional Chief Secretary Forest Ashok Barnwal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Wild Life Warden, Member Mohan Nagar, Dr. Narayan Vyas, Dr. Sudesh Baghmare, Dr. Bhatnagar, Dr. Ravichandran and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
In the meeting, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was informed that a wildlife rescue center cum zoo is proposed in Naulakhi of Ujjain district. The Chief Minister inquired about the progress of the establishment of this center and gave instructions to speed up this work. He said that the rescue center cum zoo should be prepared for wildlife tourism. In the meeting, it was told that like Ujjain, construction of a wildlife rescue center cum zoo is also proposed in Jabalpur district. Chief Minister Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh is a state full of wildlife diversity. A large number of crocodiles are found in Mandsaur, Neemuch, Shivpuri and Chambal districts here.
Yadav while instructing forest department officials on wildlife conservation, emphasized on the need to rehabilitate crocodiles in unoccupied river areas to prevent them from straying onto roads and into populated regions. He directed officials to organize workshops and joint meetings with experts to enhance conservation and rehabilitation efforts for wildlife. He also stressed the importance of developing a project that integrates wildlife conservation with tourism, aiming to attract visitors from across the country and the world.
The Chief Minister said that the Wildlife Tourism Board should worry about the welfare of animals, birds and wild animals of all three categories i.e. terrestrial (forest), aquatic and aerial. All these animals are the heritage of our vast biodiversity. We have to save them and provide a conducive environment for their development.
The Chief Minister directed officials to explore the possibility of bringing rhinoceroses from Kaziranga National Park in Assam and giraffes from South Africa to Madhya Pradesh, which is already home to tigers, leopards, and crocodiles. He also instructed the preparation and broadcast of engaging videos showcasing the state's tourist destinations and wildlife sanctuaries.
