Pench National Park
| Pench National Park | |
|---|---|
| Indira Priyadarshini National Park | |
 Landscape in Pench National Park | |
    | |
Interactive map of Pench National Park | |
| Location |
|
| Nearest city | Seoni |
| Coordinates | 21°40′17.76″N 79°18′11.88″E / 21.6716000°N 79.3033000°E |
| Area | 292.85 km2 (113.07 sq mi)[1] |
| Established |
|
| Governing body | State Forest Department |
| Website | penchnationalpark.in |
Pench National Park is a national park in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It was created in 1983 with an area of 292.85 km2 (113.07 sq mi) in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts. Since 1992, it forms the core area of Pench Tiger Reserve.[1]
Geography
Pench National Park encompasses 299 km2 (115 sq mi) in the Seoni district and Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.[1] The Pench River and numerous small streams flow through the national park, which forms the core area of Pench Tiger Reserve. The temperature in this region varies from −2 °C (28 °F) in winter to 49.5 °C (121.1 °F) in summer, and mean yearly rainfall is 1,400 mm (55 in).[2] Its elevation ranges from 425 to 620 m (1,394 to 2,034 ft).
Vegetation
The forest in the park consists of dry deciduous forests, and the tree includes teak mixed with other species like saja, bijiayasal, lendia, haldu, dhaora, salai, amla, amaltas, mahua, and white kulu. The ground is covered with a maze of grasses, plants, bushes, and saplings. Bamboo is also found at places.[3]
Wildlife
Pench National Park is home to diverse flora and fauna, which includes over 40 species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, and more than 210 bird species.[4] It hosts snake species such as cobras, pythons, and the Indian krait.[5]
Mammals
Mammal species in Pench National Park include Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, golden jackal, dhole, sloth bear, chital, sambar, northern red muntjac, four-horned antelope, gaur, nilgai, chinkara, wild boar, common langur, Rhesus monkey, Indian hare and Indian porcupine.[2]
Birds
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Pench National Park harbours more than 210 bird species including several migratory ones. Some of them are Indian peafowl, junglefowl, Indian vulture, crow pheasant, crimson-breasted barbet, red-vented bulbul, racket-tailed drongo, Crested serpent eagle, Nisaetus cirrhatus, Indian roller, magpie robin, lesser whistling teal, northern pintail, shoveller, egrets and herons, minivet, oriole, wagtail, munia, myna, waterfowl and common kingfisher.[1][6]
In popular culture
Pench National Park is one of many places that may have inspired Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.[7]
The national park served as a filming location for the BBC documentary series Tiger: Spy in the Jungle, narrated by David Attenborough.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d Kasambe, R.; Wadatkar, J.; Wagh, J.; Dudhe, N.; Khan, N. (2016). "Bird Survey in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 56 (3): 27–29.
- ^ a b Biswas, S.; Sankar, K. (2002). "Prey abundance and food habit of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India". Journal of Zoology. 256 (3): 411–420. doi:10.1017/s0952836902000456.
- ^ "Crouching tiger at hidden Rukhad". New Indian Express. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ^ "6 reasons why Pench National Park is such a hit among wildlife lovers". Times of India. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ "Apart from the big cat, the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh flaunts a variety of fabulous residents". Business Insider. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ "Birds of Pench". Inditales. 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- ^ Andres, T. (2016). "The Jungle Book: 5 best tours to Rudyard Kipling's India". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ^ Sharanya Hrishikesh (18 January 2022). "Collarwali: Remembering India's 'super mum' tigress". BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
