Kanha Wildlife Sanctuary

Kanha Tiger Reserve

 

Area Core:                940 sq. km. Buffer:              1,005 sq. km. Total:                1,945 sq. km. Longitude: 80o-26'-10" to 81o-4'-40" Latitude:   22o-1'-5" to 22o-27'-45" Altitude:    450 m. to 950 m. above msl. Rainfall:    1,224 mm. Temperature: Minimum:  - 2oC  Maximum:  43oC Seasons Winter:    November to February Summer:  March to mid-June Monsoon: Mid-June to early October

Kanha Tiger Reserve is in the Maikal hills of the Saputara range and contains parts of the Mandla, Balaghat, Kawardha and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh.

The reserve has scenic dadars (flat hilltops), grassy expanses, dense forests and riverine forests. Kanha's sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq km in dramatic natural splendour which form the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger. The park is the only habitat of the rare hardground Barasingha (Cervus Duvaceli Branderi).

By a special statute in 1955, Kanha National Park came into being. Since then, a series of stringent conservation programmes for the protection of the park's flora and fauna has given Kanha its deserved reputation for being one of the finest and best administered National Parks in Asia, an irresistible attraction for all wildlife lovers and a true haven for its animal and avian population.

In the 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar, of 250 and 300 sq km each. Though one of these was subsequently disbanded, the area remained protected until 1947. Depletion of the tiger population in the years that followed led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952.

Guided Visits
Forest Department guides accompany visitors around the park on mapped-out circuits which enable viewers to see a good cross-section of Kanha's wildlife. The best areas are the meadows around Kanha, where blackbuck, chital and barasingha can be seen throughout the day.

Bamni Dadar
Known as Sunset Point, this is one of the most beautiful areas of the park, from where a spectacular sunset can be watched. The dense luxuriance of Kanha's forests can be seen from here. Animals that can be sighted around this point are typical of the mixed forest zone: sambar, barking deer, gaur and four-horned antelope.

Wildlife (Mammalian Species)
Kanha has some 22 species of mammals. Those most easily spotted are the Striped Palm Squirrel, Common Langur, Jackal, Wild Pig, Chital or Spotted Deer, Barasingha or Swamp Deer, Sambar and Black Buck.

Less commonly seen species are:
Tiger, Indian Hare, Dhole or Indian Wild Dog, Barking Deer, Indian Bison or Gaur. Patient watching should reward the visitor with a sight of: Indian Fox, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and Porcupine.

Very rarely seen species are:
Wolf which lives in the far East of the park, Chinkara found outside the Park's Northern boundary, Indian Pangolin, the smooth Indian Otter and the small Indian Civet.

Avian Species
Kanha also has some 200 species of birds. Watchers should station themselves in the hills, where the mixed and bamboo forests harbour many species, and in the grassy forest clearings.

Water birds can be seen near the park's many rivulets and at Sarvantal, a pool that is frequented by water birds and the area in front of the museum. The Sal forests do not normally yield a sight of Kanha's avifauna. Early mornings and late afternoons are best for birdwatching; binoculars are an invaluable aid to the watcher.

Commonly seen species include:
Cattle Egret, Pond Heron, Black Ibis, Common Peafowl, Crested Serpent, Racket-Tailed Drongo, Hawk Eagle, Woodpecker, Pigeon, Dove, Parakeet, Babbler and Mynah, Indian Roller, White-Breasted Kingfisher and Gray Hornbill.

Census

Animal	1994		1995		1996		1997		1998
	KNP	Phen	KNP	Phen	KNP	Phen	KNP	Phen	KNP	Phen
Chital	21717	99	18102	107	9724	117	19800	177	20250	187
Sambar	4346	21	3313	24	3516	23	3518	23	3598	25
Barking deer	228	25	1117	30	977	49	1081	49	1130	51
Nilgai	62	–	54	–	62	–	63	–	66	–
Barasingha	366	–	389	–	322	–	324	–	332	–
Nilgai	62	–	54	–	62	–	63	–	66	–
Chausingha	114	2	99	–	68	–	69	–	70	–
Blackbuck	13	–	9	–	3	–	2	–	2	–
Gaur	1230	15	1372	18	1090	13	1108	13	1190	13
Wild boar	9292	295	9314	312	8293	244	8300	244	8448	244
Sloth bear	53	13	59	12	59	19	59	21	68	21
Langur	6550	443	6375	450	5652	752	5800	752	5844	752
Wild dog	149	57	266	50	304	36	306	40	322	42
Jackal	263	25	250	46	169	28	172	30	220	36
Tiger	100	5	97	4	97	4	105	2	106	2
Panther	72	9	62	8	62	8	70	8	71	10