•  Pench National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Nagpur district of the state of Maharashtra. Pench National Park is also known as Jawaharlal Nehru National Park.
• Pench National Park is located on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The bio-diverse habitat of Pench was officially recognized as a National Park by the Government of Maharashtra in 1975 and received an elevation in its status as India’s 25th tiger reserve in 1999. Total area of the park is about 257.26 Km2.
• The park is covered with the southern topical dry deciduous forest. It comes under the Project Tiger network for special reserves.
• The park is also rich in its variety of flora and the eco-system is a mix of dry and moist tropical deciduous forest with teak and bamboo being the dominant species.
• The dark forest is full of innumerable towering plants, such as, Segun, teak, Bija, Saja, Mahua, Tendu and Palash.
• The wildlife of the park includes tiger, leopard, jungle cat, wild dog, hyena, sambar, spotted deer, Indian gaur, neelgai, four-horned antelope, barking deer, wild boar etc.
• Serpent Eagle, Hawk Eagle, Grey-Headed Fish Eagle, White-Eyed Buzzard and Honey Buzzard. Barred Jungle Owlet, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Scarlet Minivet, Painted Francolin, Oriole, Barbets, and Kingfisher are the bird species which are found in this National Park.
• These forests continue to attract a large number of nature lovers, birdwatchers, photographers and holiday makers. Water power plant, established in Pench, is supplying power in the proximity.
• The forest authority has made a watch tower to give nature lovers a valuable opportunity to enjoy the bird’s eye view of nature and denizens.

History

• In the last century, the tiger population in India has experienced a sharp decline. With a view to conserving the remaining tiger population and the tiger habitats, Project Tiger was launched in 1973.
• Pench National Park was established in the year of 1975. Total area of the park is 257.26 Km2. Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra was declared India’s 25th Tiger Reserve in 1999.
• Currently, Pench Tiger Reserve has good tiger density, but it is also considered as one of those reserves in the Indian subcontinent, that can potentially host a large tiger population.
• Effort of Pench management to bring down the tourist pressure within carrying capacity i.e. Around 31,000 Tourist/annum has contributed significantly in creating an inviolate space for tiger. The entire area of tiger Reserve was declared as Critical Tiger Habitat in 2006.
• The area of 483.96 km2 around the park was declared as buffer zone vide Government of Maharashtra notification no. WLP 10-10/C.R. 108/F-1 dated 29/09/2010.

Geography

• Pench National Park is located in the Nagpur district of the state of Maharashtra. Pench National Park is located on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• The park is covered with the southern topical dry deciduous forest. It comes under the Project Tiger network for special reserves.
• The park is also rich in its variety of flora and the eco-system is a mix of dry and moist tropical deciduous forest with teak and bamboo being the dominant species.
• The area is a living repository of over 2000 species of plants and, hence forms a suitable abode for a wide variety of faunal species of this region.
• This region includes several rare and endangered plants as well as plants of ethno-botanical significance.
• The undulating topography support mosaic of vegetation ranging from moist sheltered valleys to open dry deciduous forests.
• Most of the area is covered with sandy loam, which is especially fertile in the valleys and fairly so on the slopes. Red kankar and saline soils occur in some areas. Alluvial soils are found on the banks of the Pench river and other streams and Nalas that crisscross the area.

Total area

Core area – 257.26 Km2

Buffer area – 483.96 Km2

Rainfall – 1220 mm

Temperature – Maximum – 45o C

Minimum – 3o C

Dominant flora

• Trees – Anogeissus latifolia, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Terminalia, tomentosa, Boswellia serreta, Lannea coromandelica, Madhuca longifolia, Dalbergia paniculata, Albizia lebbeck, Diopspyrous melanoxylon, Pterocarpus marsupium, Syzigium cumini, Terminalia arjuna, Emblica officinalis, Grewia tiliafolia, Careya arborea, Gardenia turgida, Cassia fistula, Gardenia resinifera, Acacia catechu, Butea monosperma, Zizyphus glaberrima etc.
• Shrubs – Helicteres isora, Ziziphus oenoplia, Carrisa carandus, Woodfordia fruiticosa, Flemingia bracteata, Flacourtia indica, Calycoperis floribunda etc.
• Grasses – Apluda mutica, Heteropogon contortus, Themeda quadrivalvis, Cynodon dactylon etc.
• Climbers – Mimosa hemata, Bauhinia vahlii, Butea superba, Abrus precatorius, Asparagus racemosus, Vitex Negundo etc.
• Weeds – Lantana camera, Parthenium hysterophorus, Tribulus terrestris, Cassia tora, Urena lobota etc.

Dominant fauna

• Mammals – Tiger, Gaur, Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild Dog, Wild Pig, Leopard, Wolf, Sloth Bear, Chausingha, Chinkara, Barking Deer, Jackal, Fox, Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, leopard cat, Hyena, Porcupine, Spotted deer, Nilgai, Langurs, Flying squirrel, The Indian pangolin, Rhesus monkey, Mouse deer, Black naped hare etc.
• Reptiles – Common Indian monitor lizard, Indian python, Water monitor, Marsh crocodile, Black Turtle etc.
• Birds – Herons, Egrets, Pigeons, Parakeets, Mynahs, Shrikes, Orioles, Bulbuls, Tailor birds, Barbets, Sunbirds, Wagtails, Malabar pied, Grey hornbill, Indian pitta, Osprey, Grey headed fishing eagle, White eyed buzzard, White necked stork, Open bill stork, Brahminy duck, Barheaded geese, The Black Eagle, The Shaheen Falcon, The Eastern White Stork, Bamboo Partridge, Green Peafowl etc.