Pench National Park

History & Overview

Pench is where the Jungle Book comes to life. In the district of Seoni[erstwhile Seonee, where Mowgli was born], not more than 2.5 hours away from Nagpur City, lies this very important reserve.

Forming corridors for movement of tigers between Kanha, Nagzira as well as Bor Wildlife Sanctuary – Pench is one of the most significant landscapes although living dangerously amongst area of great “development” potential for the powers that be.

This Tiger Reserve is spread across 2000 sq km in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, although the areas close to and in Madhya Pradesh are the most. The core area of Pench Maharashtra is around 400 sq. km whose popularity has risen due to the groundbreaking documentary film by the BBC called “Tiger : Spy in the Jungle” wherein elephants have been trained to take intimate footage of a family of a dominant tigress and her 04 cubs right from birth to adulthood! The equipment used was ahead of its time with a story well woven.

Pench has one of the highest densities of Spotted Deer in India, and animals such as the Indian Leopard and the Dhol or Indian Wild Dog exist while carefully avoiding conflict with the 80-odd tigers in the wild here. Here, evidence of large villages which have been relocated to bring back the grasslands is apparent with sprawling grasslands now as far as the eye can see, amongst the gently rolling hills which are gorgeous just after the monsoons.

The life-giving Pench river is a hot-bed of activity with water-birds and herbivores which attract the Jackal, Wild Dog as well as the Tiger who make it one of their hunting grounds. Vultures roost atop the dry trees, looking to scavenge on the remains.