Pench Tiger Reserve: Maharashtra

• 06 Mar 2021

Why in News

Recently, a female cub of 'man-eater' tigress Avni has been released into the wild in the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) of Maharashtra.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • It is located in Nagpur District of Maharashtra and named after the pristine Pench River.
    
    • The Pench river flows right through the middle of the park.
    • It descends from north to south, thereby dividing the reserve into equal eastern and western parts.
  • PTR is the joint pride of both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
    
    • The Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh, and continues in Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary.
  • It was declared a National Park by the Government of Maharashtra in 1975 and the identity of a tiger reserve was granted to it in the year 1998-1999.
    
    • However, PTR Madhya Pradesh was granted the same status in 1992-1993. It is one of the major Protected Areas of Satpura-Maikal ranges of the Central Highlands.
  • It is among the sites notified as Important Bird Areas (IBA) of India.
    
    • The IBA is a programme of Birdlife International which aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for conservation of the world’s birds and associated diversity.
• Flora:
  
  • The green cover is thickly spread throughout the reserve.
  • A mixture of Southern dry broadleaf teak forests and tropical mixed deciduous forests is present.
  • Shrubs, climbers and trees are also frequently present. Some of them are unique varieties and possess medicinal as well as healing properties.
  • Bamboo plantations are also present nearby the water banks.
• Fauna:
  
  • Mammals:
    
    • These include – sloth bear, jackal, nilgai, wild dog etc.
  • Birds:
    
    • This comprises peafowl, magpie robin, pintail, drongo, unia, myna etc.
• Major Tiger Reserves of India:

Source: IE