Van Vihar National Park

• Van Vihar National Park is located in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh).
• It is situated next to the famous Upper Lake of Bhopal also known as the “Bada Talab” which is a Ramsar Site and one of the two lakes of Bhoj Wetland.
• It has the unique distinction of being a combination of National Park, a Zoo, Rescue Centre for wild animals and Conservation Breeding Centre for selected vital species.
  • It is the only place in central India where its rescue centre harbours a number of Lions and Tigers rescued from the circuses, Sloth Bears rescued from the madaris, Tigers, Panthers and Bears rescued from the zones of human-wildlife conflict.
  • It is also a designated co-ordinating zoo and Conservation Breeding Centre for the Hard Ground Barasingha, the state animal of Madhya Pradesh and two species of Gyps Vultures.
• It is a natural habitat for a variety of herbivores and carnivores namely, tiger, white tiger, leopard, hyena and sloth bear, chital, sambhar, blackbuck, blue bull, chousingha, common langur, rhesus monkey, porcupine, etc.

Captive fauna

• The animals, such as the Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Asiatic wildcat, Indian wolf, Sloth bear, Red fox, Indian jackal, wild dog, mongoose, striped hyena, mugger crocodile, gharial, and snakes such as the python are kept in captivity in a system of kraal and enclosures in lines of modern concept of zoo management as per the norms of Central Zoo Authority. All felids and hyenas are fed with buffalo meat, mutton and poultry. Bears are provided with milk, vegetables and fruits to make a balanced diet.

Herbivores

• Chital, sambar, blackbuck, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar, porcupine, hare, Rhesus macaque, common langur are ranging freely. Normally the grass and other plant species growing in Van Vihar are sufficient for these herbivores. However, in summer when the grass is scarce, green fodder produced in the fodder farm and wheat husk procured from the market is provided as a supplement. In its ponds, Indian star tortoise, turtles, and a variety of fish occur. Van Vihar also preserves animals belonging to endangered species.

Avian fauna

• The wilderness of park offers an ideal habitat for a number of avian fauna. Till now about two hundred species of birds have been listed in different parts of Van Vihar. Large number of birds frequent this park, especially during winter the migratory waterfowl alight in great numbers in the adjoining extensive wetland of big lake. In the 2010s, the park developed a vulture breeding centre, which initially focused on restoring populations of white-rumped vulture and long billed vultures  .

Hence, Option B is Correct.

Betla National Park is a national park in Jharkhand, India, and is situated on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Latehar and Palamu districts. The park is home to a diverse range of species.

The Palamu Tiger Reserve originally included 1,026 square kilometres, but in 1989, a supplemental 226 square kilometres and 63 square kilometres of the Mahuadar Wolf Sanctuary were introduced to the park. Betla was among the first national parks in India to be designated as a “Project Tiger ” reserve in 1974. The Forest Department is in charge of the park’s management.

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Jharkhand

Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary: It is an important elephant corridor in the Dalma Hills.

Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary:

•  It is located in Bihar and Jharkhand.
• It covers the Lower Gangetic Plains (moist deciduous forests) and Chota Nagpur (dry deciduous forests).

Mahuadanr Wolf Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located along the Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh border.
• It is a breeding ground for Indian Wolf.

Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is contiguous with the Koel River Valley forests, Saranda-Singhbhum Range forests and Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary.

Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is situated in Parasnath Hills (Chota Nagpur Plateau).

Dudhwa Lake Bird Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is the only Bird Sanctuary of Jharkhand state.
• It comprises two backwater lakes over Ganga River.

Hence, option B is correct.

Pench National Park  

• The national park in India's Madhya Pradesh state, established in 1975 Pench National Park got its name from the Pench River that flows through the beautiful green forest. This park is closed during the monsoon season. It consists of many tigers, which is why it was declared a national tiger reserve in the year 1992 by the Government of India. Many tribal people live near and inside the national park.

Forests and Wildlife

• The undulating topography supports a mosaic of vegetation ranging from moist, sheltered valleys to open, dry deciduous forest. Over 1200 species of plants have been recorded from the area including several rare and endangered plants as well as plants of ethno-botanical importance.
• The area has always been rich in wildlife. It is dominated by fairly open canopy, mixed forests with considerable shrub cover and open grassy patches. The high habitat heterogeneity favours high population of Chital and Sambar. Pench tiger reserve has highest density of herbivores in India. These parks and ‘tiger reserves’ play an important role in protecting biodiversity and the environment surrounding the forests.

Some important national parks in Madhya Pradesh.

Kanha National Park

• It is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. Kanha National Park was established on the 1st of June 1955. Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, and barasingha are among the most important species living in the Kanha National Park. Rudyard Kipling got the inspiration to write his famous novel “The Jungle Book” from the forests of Kanha National Park and its surrounding areas! In 1973, the national park was also declared a national tiger reserve.

Bandhavgarh National Park

• The Bandhavgarh forest was declared a national park in 1968. It is located in the Umaria district. The Bandhavgarh National Park got the status of a tiger reserve in the year 1993. This park consists of various species, including leopards, deer, and the famous white tiger. Increasing mining-related projects around the park are threatening the lives of tigers. 

Panna National Park

• It is a tiger reserve as well as a national park located in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh. It was established in 1981. It is located in the northeastern region of Madhya Pradesh. This park comprises several wildlife species such as lion, tiger, hyaena, wolf, Nilgai, deer, chinkara, etc. The climate in this region is dry and hot, and it receives around 1100 mm annually. The Ken River flows through the national park. 

Satpura National Park

• Satpura National Park is also a tiger reserve located in the Narmadapuram district of Madhya Pradesh. It was established in 1981. This park consists of mountains, forests, small canyons and ravines. It is situated 210 kilometres away from Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. It is home to many wildlife species such as deer, leopard, wild boar, chinkara, flying squirrel, as well as birds like hornbill, peacock, etc. Pandav Caves is an attraction point in the Satpura National Park. There are nearly 50 rock shelters with rock paintings nearly 15 thousand years old. 

Madhav National Park

• It is located in the northwestern region of the state. It was earlier known as Shivpuri National Park and was renamed Madhav National Park in 1959. Sankhya Sagar is the largest water reservoir in the Madhav National Park. Previously, this forest was the hunting reserve for the Scindia maharajas, and this park is named after Madhav Rao Scindia.  

Sanjay Dubri National Park

• It was established in 1975, and it is located in the eastern part of Madhya Pradesh, on the boundary of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. There are around 152 species of birds and 32 species of mammals in this national park. Some important wildlife species include chinkara, deer, Indian python, sloth bear, porcupine, and jungle cat. This national park is also a tiger reserve.

Kuno National Park

• It is located in the northern region of the state. It has a variety of flora and fauna. Indian wolf, Bengal fox, sloth bear, wild boar, and chinkara are some wildlife species found in this park.

Ghughua National Park

• This fossil site was founded in 1970 and was declared a national park in 1983. It is located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. Many plants, seeds, and fruit fossils have been discovered in this park, which are around 65 million years old. Eucalyptus and palm are the most important fossils found in this park.

Van Vihar National Park

• It is located in Bhopal, and it was declared a national park in 1979. Some of the attractions of this park are white-rumped vultures, lions, Bengal tigers, snakes, wild cats, nilgai, deer, sambar, and chital.  

Hence ,Option A is Correct.