VAN VIHAR NATIONAL PARK Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: A 36-year-old male sloth bear died due to multi-organ failure at a zoo-cum-animal rescue centre in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal.

Van Vihar National Park

• Location: In Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• Proximity to Upper Lake: Positioned adjacent to the renowned Upper Lake, also known as "Bada Talab," a Ramsar Site and one of the two lakes within the Bhoj Wetland.
• Features: The park serves as a unique amalgamation of a National Park, Zoo, Rescue Centre for wild animals, and a Conservation Breeding Centre for selected vital species.
• Rescue Centre: Notably, the rescue centre at Van Vihar houses Lions, Tigers, Sloth Bears, Panthers, and Bears rescued from circuses, madaris, and areas of human-wildlife conflict.
• Special Designations: It holds the distinction of being a designated coordinating zoo and Conservation Breeding Centre for the Hard Ground Barasingha, the state animal of Madhya Pradesh, and two species of Gyps Vultures.
• Diverse Wildlife Habitat: Tigers, white tigers, leopards, hyenas, sloth bears, chital, sambhar, blackbuck, blue bull, chousingha, common langur, rhesus monkey, porcupine, and more.

Sloth Bear

• About: It is a myrmecophagous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent.
• Also known as the: Labiated bear" because of its long lower lip and palate used for sucking up insects.
• Conservation Status

oIUCN Red List: Vulnerable.

oIndian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1 

• Threat: Habitat loss and degradation