Madhya Pradesh State PCS

• 03 Jul 2024

Tiger Reserves to Remain Closed Till October

Why in News?

According to the sources, six tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh have closed their core zones to the public and tourists.

• The reserves affected by this seasonal closure include Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench, Satpura, Panna, and Sanjay-Dubri.

Key Points

• One of the primary reasons the national parks are closed is that the monsoon season is a critical time for tigers and tigresses as they mate and prefer solitude.
  • Any disturbance during this period can cause these majestic animals to become aggressive.
  • This undisturbed period is essential for maintaining healthy tiger populations and supporting conservation efforts.

Bandhavgarh National Park:

• Known for its high density of Bengal tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most popular tiger reserves in India. It also houses various other wildlife species such as leopards, deer, and numerous bird species.

Kanha National Park:

• Famous for its diverse wildlife and lush landscapes, Kanha National Park inspired Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. It is renowned for its significant population of Bengal tigers, as well as barasingha (swamp deer) and other species of deer.

Pench National Park:

• Located on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Pench National Park is famous for its dense forests and diverse wildlife. Visitors can spot tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and a variety of bird species.

Satpura National Park:

• It is characterised by its rugged terrain, deep valleys, and dense forests. It offers a unique experience of exploring the wilderness through jeep safaris, boat rides, and walking trails, allowing visitors to encounter wildlife like tigers, leopards, and sloth bears.

Panna National Park:

• It is renowned for its efforts in tiger conservation and is home to a significant population of these majestic cats. The park also boasts a rich biodiversity, including various species of deer, antelope, and birds.

Sanjay National Park:

• This national park, located in the Chhattisgarh-Madhya Pradesh border region, is known for its pristine forests and diverse flora and fauna. It is a part of the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve and provides habitat for tigers, leopards, and other wildlife.

AI-Based Fire Detection System

Why in News?

Recently, The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) has launched an advanced Artificial Intelligence-based system for early detection of forest fires.

Key Points

• The new system features a high-resolution camera with a visual range of 15 km, effectively covering more than 350 sq km of the reserve.
• The AI-powered platform, known as Pantera, leverages both the camera feed and satellite-based data to provide real-time alerts of forest fires within three minutes.
  • The system also receives weather data related to temperature, precipitation, wind, etc, and analysing data with past fires, the system forecasts the probable future fires in the short term, which helps in planning fire control.

Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR)

• 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 1992.
  • 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.