Pench Tiger Reserve (UPSC)

About Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR):

• The Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and shares the southern boundary with Maharashtra.
• In 1983, it was declared a National Park, and in 1992, a tiger reserve. It is spread across 1,180 sq.km., including a buffer zone of 768 sq.km.
• It is named after the Pench River, meandering through the reserve from north to south.
• It comprises the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and a buffer.
• The area of the PTR and the surrounding area is the real story area of Rudyard Kipling's famous "The Jungle Book".
• Vegetation: The undulating topography supports a mosaic of vegetation ranging from a moist sheltered valley to an open, dry deciduous forest.
• Flora:
  • The reserve boasts a diverse range of flora, including teak, saag, mahua, and various grasses and shrubs.
  • Teak forests are found in about one quarter of the area. Bamboo plantations are also present near the water banks.
• Fauna:
  • The area is especially famous for large herds of Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur (Indian Bison), and wild boar.
  • The key predator is the tiger, followed by the leopard, wild dogs, and wolf.
  • There are over 325 species of resident and migratory birds, including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Osprey, Grey Headed Fishing Eagle, White Eyed Buzzard, etc.

Q1: Which is India’s first Dark Sky Park?

The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra has become India's first Dark Sky park and is the fifth in Asia. The park earned the title for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution, making the facility ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.

Source: IE