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Pench National park lies in the lower southern reaches of the Satpura hills and is named after the Pench River which flows through the park from north to south. It is located on the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Maharashtra, in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara. It comprising of 758 sq kms, out of which 299 sq km is the core area and the balance 464 sq km is the buffer area. The area of the present tiger reserve has a glorious history. The Reserve and its neighborhood is the original setting of Rudyard Kipling’s most famous work, The Jungle Book.
Avi – Fauna
Pench Tiger Reserve is amongst the best areas for bird watching. There are over 285 species of resident and migratory birds including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Osprey, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, etc. In winter thousands of migratory waterfowl including Brahmini Duck, Pochards, Barheaded Geese, Coots, etc visit the tanks and the Pench reservoir within the Park.
Four species of the now endangered vultures namely white-rumped, longbilled, white scavenger and king vulture can be seen in good numbers in the Reserve.
Climate
The national park of Pench has usually tropical climate, and is warm during the summer, and cold in winter. Winters, temperature ranging between 3º C to 16º C, are the most comfortable season to visit the park, but it doesn’t guarantee good wildlife viewing. Summers (April- June), temperature soaring from 26º C to 42º C, are the best time to view rich wildlife in the park.
Flora
Pench tiger reserve has highest density of herbivores in India (90.3 animals per sq km). The area is especially famous for large herds of Gaur (Indian Bison), Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild Dog and Wild Pig. The key predator is the Tiger followed by Leopard, Wild Dog and Wolf. Other animals include Sloth Bear, Chousingha, Chinkara, Barking Deer, Jackal, Fox, Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Porcupine etc.
Fauna
The topography supports a mix of vegetation ranging from moist, sheltered valleys to open, dry deciduous forest. It is dominated by fairly open canopy; mixed forests with considerable shrub cover and open grassy patches. Over 1,200 species of plants have been recorded including some rare and endangered plants. The high habitat heterogeneity favours high population of Chital and Sambar.
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