Madhav
(Shivpuri) National Park 156 sq km in area, the park is open throughout
the year. Biogeographical Provinces 4.8.4 (Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest).
The park enforces the conservation which the area enjoyed when it was
the private shooting reserve of the Maharaja of Gwalior. It was
established as the Shivpuri National Park in 1958 simultaneously with
the creation of the State of Madhya Pradesh.

It
now enjoys further protection under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Consists of level, undulating and hilly country in the Vindhyan range.
Also lake. Altitude ranges from 360-480m. With a varied terrain of
wooded hills, the forest being dry, mixed and deciduous with flat
grasslands around the lake, it offers abundant opportunities of sighting
a variety of wildlife. The vegetation in the park mixed dry deciduous
forest of somewhat poor quality.
AttractionThe
predominant species that inhabits the park is the deer, of which the
most easily sighted are the graceful little Chinkara, the Indian
gazelle, and the Chital. Other species that have their habitat in the
park are Nilgai, Sambar, Chausingha or four-horned Antelope, Blackbuck,
Sloth Bear, Leopard and the ubiquitous common Langur. Tiger Panthera
tigris (occasional), leopard Panthera pardus, striped Hyaena, jackal
Canis aureus, jungle cat Felis chaus) chital Axis axis, sambar Cervus
unicolor, nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, four-horned antelope
(chowsingha) Tetracerus quadricornis, wild boar Sus scrofa, chinkara
(mountain gazelle) Gazella, crocodile and others.
The National
park is equally rich in the artificial lake, Chandpata, is winter home
of geese, pochard, pintail, teal, mallard and gadwall. A good site for
bird watching is where the forest track crosses the wide rocky stream
that flows from the Waste Weir. Species that frequently this spot are
Red Wattled Lapwing, Large Pied Wagtail, Pond Heron and White - Breasted
Kingfisher. The avifauna also includes Cormorant, Painted Stork, White
Ibis, Laggar Falcon, Purple Sunbird, Paradise Flycatcher and Golden
Oriole.