Pench International Park History

Pench International Park History

Pench National Park was stated as a sanctuary in 1977, but in 1983, it elicited to the status of National Park. Later in the year 1992, it was recognized as PenchTiger Reserve, which covers 758 sq. km of area and the Pench National Park form the centre zone of the Reserve that covers 292.85 sq. km, and the Mowgli Pench Wildlife Sanctuary covers 118.30 sq. km of areas. A Buffer Zone formed by Reserve Forests, Revenue land and Protected Forests occupies 346.73 sq. km.

Pench National Park has splendid history. The depiction of its magnificence and natural wealth occurs in Ain-i-Akbari (Constitution of Akbar), which was a 16th century document written by Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak (the Emperor Akbar’s vizier), recording the Akbar’s administration empire. Pench has inspired Rudyard Kipling to write the popular novel ‘The Jungle Book’. Above all, third part special Tiger of BBC ‘Spy in the Jungle’ was also filmed in Pench National Park, which was based on the growing of four Tigers in Pench.

Wildlife in Park

Pench National Park is very rich in fauna and it’s an abode to a large number of endangered species. The most dominant predator is Tiger and there are around 25 of them in these prey-rich woodlands. There are some other predators like dhol (Indian Wild Dog), leopard, hyena, wolf, jackal and jungle cat. Some prey species observed in the park are sambhar, chital, gaur, muntjac, langur, wild boar, and rhesus macaques.  Commonly seen species are herd of deer.

There are more than 170 species of birds comprising various migratory ones like peafowl, crow pheasant, junglefowl, red-vented bulbul, crimson-breasted barbet, magpie robin, lesser whistling teal, racket-tailed drongo, egret, pintail, shoveler, herons to name a few.

As per the study in the year 1, 25 tigers were found under the umbrella of the park along with 39 mammals, 13 reptiles, and 3 amphibians. Aside from mammals and other land-based flora & fauna, the park is also rich in bird life. As per the evaluation of the wildlife authorities, 210 species of birds was observed in this park like munias, barbets, minivets orioles, bulbul, waterfowls, wagtails, mynas, and blue kingfishers.