Pench Tiger Reserve: Overview & Recent Incident

Why in news?

• A tigress carcass, aged four to five years, was discovered in the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), located in Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh. Poaching is suspected as the cause of death.

About Pench Tiger Reserve:

• Location: Spanning Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the reserve is situated in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills.
• National Park & Sanctuary:
  • It comprises Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and a buffer zone.
• Significance:
  • Represents the Central Indian Highland wilderness.
  • A crucial habitat for the endangered tiger and other species.
  • The Pench River plays a key role in Nagpur’s water supply and electricity generation from the Totladoh Reservoir.
• Flora:
  • Features teak forests, tropical mixed deciduous forests, mahua, saag.
  • Known for bamboo plantations and medicinal plants.
• Fauna:
  • Mammals include sloth bear, wild dog, jackal, Nilgai, wild boar.
  • Birds such as peafowl, magpie robin, Indian pitta, and the Malabar Pied Hornbill.
  • The primary predators are tigers, leopards, and wild dogs.
• Terrain: The area is characterized by undulating hills, steep slopes, and valleys.
• Cultural Significance: Famous as the backdrop for Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book".
• Biodiversity: Home to over 325 bird species, including both migratory and resident birds.