Located in the Satpura hill ranges, Pench Tiger Reserve covers over 257 sq. kms. It was declared a tiger reserve in February 1999. It is also famously known to be the home of ‘Mowgli’ from the Jungle Book.
The park gets its name from the Pench River. It has a brilliant biodiversity, with its terrain defined by hills, valleys and the occasional precipitous slope. Pench is considered to be an important ecosystem that supports an abundance of flora and fauna.
The reserve is home to approximately 35 species of mammals, 200 species of birds, 10 species of amphibians, 30 species of reptiles, and a wide variety of insects.
The main predators found here are tigers, wild dogs and leopards.
Pench is also a home to Sambar, Chital, Barking Deer, Nilgai, Black Buck, Indian Gaur, Wild Pig, Chausingha, Sloth Bear, Hanuman Langur, Rhesus Macaque, Mouse Deer, Indian Hare, Jackal, Indian Striped Hyena, Porcupine, Flying Squirrels, Palm & small Indian Civet, Indian Tree Shrew, Flying Fox, Fruit Bat, etc.
Birds like Malabar pied Hornbill, Indian Pittas, Grey-winged Blackbird, Orioles, Rollers, Flycatchers, White Eye, Water hen, Ducks & Teals, Sandpipers, Wagtails, Ospreys, Grey-headed fishing Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, Storks, four endangered Vulture species & green pigeons (the State Bird of Maharashtra) are found here.
