| Pench Tiger
Reserve lies in lower southern reach of
Satpura Hills. Pench river which meander through
from north to south gives the name to this National Park.
It is located on the southern fringes of MP.
Southern Indian tropical moist deciduous forest along with tropical dry deciduous
teak. The jungle is crisscrossed by the river and number of streams
and 'nallahs' some are perennial and some seasonal. The
lifeline of the park Pench River dries in April leaving a number of scattered ponds or
pools known as 'dohs' which sustain the wild animals, birds, and reptiles. In summers wild animals congregate around these water sources. The Pench river is dammed called Totlah Doh Dam or reservoir
which lies at the center of the park which retains water during the dry summers.
Tiger are active in and around Pench river and the dam as prey base concentration is high. They can be seen near the Safari Lodge as well. Leopard
movements are in the periphery but
sighting does take place in the core zone or the deep forest. Jungle
cats are common while Leopard cat, small Indian civet
and palm civet are rarely seen as they are nocturnal.
Tiger safari at Pench is very popular as tiger sighting is good. Wildlife tours are exciting and thrilling at this 758 sq.km park and a record number of species are seen in winters as numbers are augmented by winter visitors. If the number of bird species comes out to be greater than Kanha National Park it will not be a big surprise. Among reptiles cobras, kraits and Russell's viper are seen with luck while Indian python are seen more often.
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