Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh

Khana National Park:

Kanha's sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq km in dramatic natural splendour which form the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger. The park is the only habitat of the rare hardground Barasingha (Cervus Duvaceli Branderi).

By a special statute in 1955, Kanha National Park came into being. Since then, a series of stringent conservation programmes for the protection of the park's flora and fauna has given Kanha its deserved reputation for being one of the finest and best administered National Parks in Asia, an irresistible attraction for all wildlife lovers and a true haven for its animal and avian population.

In the 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar, of 250 and 300 sq km each. Though one of these was subsequently disbanded, the area remained protected until 1947. Depletion of the tiger population in the years that followed led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952.
Forest Department guides accompany visitors around the park on mapped-out circuits which enable viewers to see a good cross-section of Kanha's wildlife. The best areas are the meadows around Kanha, where blackbuck, chital and barasingha can be seen throughout the day.

 Known as Sunset Point, this is one of the most beautiful areas of the park, from where a spectacular sunset can be watched. The dense luxuriance of Kanha's forests can be seen from here. Animals that can be sighted around this point are typical of the mixed forest zone: sambar, barking deer, gaur and four-horned antelope.

Kanha has some 22 species of mammals. Those most easily spotted are the Striped Palm Squirrel, Common Langur, Jackal, Wild Pig, Chital or Spotted Deer, Barasingha or Swamp Deer, Sambar and Black Buck.

Tiger, Indian Hare, Dhole or Indian Wild Dog, Barking Deer, Indian Bison or Gaur. Patient watching should reward the visitor with a sight of: Indian Fox, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and Porcupine. Wolf which lives in the far East of the park, Chinkara found outside the Park's Northern boundary, Indian Pangolin, the smooth Indian Otter and the small Indian Civet.Kanha also has some 200 species of birds. Watchers should station themselves in the hills, where the mixed and bamboo forests harbour many species, and in the grassy forest clearings.

Water birds can be seen near the park's many rivulets and at Sarvantal, a pool that is frequented by water birds and the area in front of the museum. The Sal forests do not normally yield a sight of Kanha's avifauna. Early mornings and late afternoons are best for birdwatching; binoculars are an invaluable aid to the watcher.

Cattle Egret, Pond Heron, Black Ibis, Common Peafowl, Crested Serpent, Racket-Tailed Drongo, Hawk Eagle, Woodpecker, Pigeon, Dove, Parakeet, Babbler and Mynah, Indian Roller, White-Breasted Kingfisher and Gray Hornbill.

How To Reach Kanha National Park

By Air:Nagpur, which is about 266 kilometres away, is the nearest airport.
By Rail:Jabalpur is the nearest railhead to reach Kanha National Park.

By Road: the park is well connected by road with Jabalpur, which is 175 km, Khajuraho, 445 km and Nagpur, 266 km

Pench Tiger Reserve:

comprises the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Mowgli Pench Sanctuary and a buffer. The Park nestles in the Southern slopes of the Satpura ranges of Central India. The river Pench, which splits the National Park into two, forms the lifeline of the Park.

The area of the present tiger reserve has a glorious history. A description of its natural wealth and richness occurs in Ain-i-Akbari. Several natural history books like R. A. Strendale's 'Seonee - Camp life in Satpura Hills,' Forsyth's 'Highlands of Central India' and Dunbar Brander's 'Wild Animals of Central India' explicitly present the detailed panorama of nature's abundance in this tract. Strendale's semi-autobiographical 'Seonee' was the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

The Pench Tiger Reserve and its neighbourhood is the original setting of Rudyard Kipling's most famous work, The Jungle Book. Kipling borrowed heavily from Robert Armitage Strendale's books 'Seonee', 'Mammalia of India and Ceylon' and 'Denizens of the Jungle' for the topography, wildlife, and its ways. Mowgli was inspired by Sir William Henry Sleeman's pamphlet, 'An Account of Wolves Nurturing Children in Their Dens' which describes a wolf-boy captured in Seoni district near the village of Sant Baori in 1831. Many of The Jungle Book's locations are actual locations in Seoni District, like the Waingunga river with its gorge where Sherkhan was killed, Kanhiwara villlage and the 'Seeonee hills'.

How to Reach Pench National Park

By Air :Airport - Sonegaon Airport, Nagpur (92 kms. from the Park) Nagpur is the nearest airport connected to Delhi & Mumbai and other places by regular flights. Jabalpur (192 kms.)

By Rail :Nagpur (92 kms.) is the nearest railway station connected to Delhi & Mumbai and other places in the region by regular trains. Jabalpur (192 kms.) also serves as a convenient railhead connected to Delhi and other parts of the country. Numerous Rajdhani Express Trains from Delhi conveniently connect to Nagpur like, the Delhi- Chennai, Delhi- Bangalore & Delhi- Bilaspur trains.

By Road:A National Highway connects the Pench National Park to Nagpur (92 kms.) and Jabalpur (192 kms). The drive time from Nagpur is 2 hrs and from Jabalpur, is 4 hrs.

Jungle Safari

The major attraction of the Park is the jungle safari. In a Jeep drive round the park one can see a variety of animals and birds, especially large herds of chital numbering over a thousand. The varied topography and ever-changing vegetation provides an unforgettable experience for the visitor.

Elephant Rides

The Park has elephants that are used to track and show tigers to the tourists. An elephant ride into the forests is an enchanting experience.

Boating

The large Pench reservoir within the Park with its numerous islands provides a magical setting for boating. Motorboats, paddleboats and rowboats are available for the tourists.

River Rafting

Rafting can be done in the Pench river outside the Park between 1st September and 15th October. The forested banks of the river along with rocky stretches of the river locally called kassa make for an adventurous, memorable experience.

Bandhavgarh National Park

This is a small National Park; compact, yet full of game. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India.This is also White Tiger country. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for many years. The last known was captured by Maharajah Martand Singh in 1951. This White Tiger, Mohan, is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajahs of Rewa