Pench Tiger Reserve, situated in Madhya Pradesh, India, spans across the Seoni and
Chhindwara districts and derives its name from the Pench River, which flows through the
park. This reserve gained international recognition due to its association with Rudyard
Kipling’s The Jungle Book (1894), which popularized its diverse wildlife and landscapes.
Officially designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1965, it was later declared a national park in
1975 and attained the status of a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1992.
Covering an extensive area of 758 square kilometers, Pench Tiger Reserve comprises core
and buffer zones that harbor a rich biodiversity. The reserve is home to the Royal Bengal
tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, wild dog, jackal, gaur, four-horned antelope,
barking deer, Indian wolf, and various other fauna. The dense forests and open grasslands
provide an ideal habitat for these species, making Pench one of India’s most significant
wildlife conservation sites.
Notably, the reserve extends across two Indian states—Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Of
its total area, 257 square kilometers lie within Maharashtra, enabling safari access from both
states. This contiguous landscape ensures uniform wildlife sightings, allowing tourists to
experience the ecosystem seamlessly regardless of the entry point.
Pench Tiger Reserve continues to be a major ecotourism destination, attracting wildlife
enthusiasts and conservationists worldwide. Its ecological significance and role in tiger
conservation highlight its importance in India's protected area network.