Pench Tiger Reserve

29 Oct 2024 12:15:28 pm

Tags : Pench Tiger Reserve

Topic: Protected Forests

Why in the news?

Pench Tiger Reserve faces habitat strain due to spotted deer overpopulation
Overpopulated spotted deer in Madhya Pradesh\'s Pench Tiger Reserve are stressing the habitat, prompting relocation efforts to balance the ecosystem.

Source: Deccan Chronicle

About Pench Tiger Reserve:

It 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 is named after the Pench River, which flows from north to south through the Reserve.
It comprises the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Pench Mowgli Sanctuary and a buffer.
Its terrain is undulating, with most of the area covered by small hills and steep slopes on the sides.
It supports a mosaic of vegetation ranging from a moist sheltered valley to an open, dry deciduous forest.
Fauna:
- It includes teak, saag, mahua, various grasses and shrubs.
Fauna:
- Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur (Indian Bison) and wild boar are found here.
- The key predator is the tiger, followed by 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.

Spotted Deer:

It is also known as chital or cheetal.
It is the most common deer species in Indian forests.
It is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent.It is widely distributed in Asia, especially in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and a small group in Pakistan.
It habitat includes subtropical grasslands and forests
It has a lifespan of about 20 to 30 years.
It stands at about 35 inches tall and weighs about 187 pounds.
It is a slightly reddish brown with white spots on its body.
Only males have antlers, and their bodies are larger than females.
It is a social animal. It commonly occurs in herds of 10 to 50 individuals.
It mainly feeds on grasses. Its diets include herbs, shrubs, foliage, and fruits.
Its IUCN Red List status is Least Concern