Pench National Park: Wildlife Conservation in India

The jeep comes to a halt, ever so slightly gliding into the worn muddy tracks along the dirt road. The deep ruts in certain sections showed that drivers had hesitated in this area before. Possibly, stopping to see a moving figure slinking, concealed by the dense jungle surrounding us. Submersing yourself in the wild like this, where animals live is an unparalleled way to experience first hand how important ethical animal encounters can be. It also solidifies how topics like wildlife conservation in India are paramount to keeping species thriving. 

The word safari may as well mean high alert. Your senses are heightened. Wind is blowing across your face, a refreshing breeze while sitting in the open cab, the hot Central Indian sun beating down. You’re squinting, scanning across the jungle, your eyes darting in between tree trunks looking for any slight movement in the tall grass. The engine stops. Your ears tilt away from the dirt road towards the thick forest. Birds singing, monkeys calling to one another, spotted deer cooing, it’s a cacophony of communication all to keep each other safe from the one thing we are looking for, Tigers.

Central India, in particular the state of Madhya Pradesh has several national parks dedicated to preserving and protecting wildlife in India. The tigers are a population of big cats that have been in decline until recently. Pench itself has over 50 tigers in the park and the other parks in India have seen an uptick in the number of tigers over the last several years. This is a good sign that conservation efforts and in particular the focus on increasing populations is effective. 

Pench National Park 

Pench is one of 103 national parks in India. Most are dedicated areas with the intent to protect endangered flora and fauna in the region. What makes Pench National Park special is that it’s notorious for being the inspiration for Ruyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. In the mind of the author, the Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh (MP) would become the land where Mowgli would live. 

Fun Fact: Kipling actually NEVER came to Pench. He spent most of his time in India in Mumbai (Bombay at the time) and saw Pench National Park through books, sketches and photos. 

There are other animals that are just as exciting to watch, in case a tiger doesn’t find themselves in your path while at the park. The thing to remember about ethical wildlife encounters is that we are in the home of the animal and so that might mean we won’t always see what we came for. Wart hogs, leopards, exotic birds, deer and jackal are some of the many other animals you’ll find on safari in Pench. 

Why Choose Pench National Park? 

So, with so many national parks where you can see tigers, why pick Pench? There are many visitors who choose to go on a safari vacation, where you can plan to spend a few days at several parks. Unfortunately, if you want to have time to visit other places in India outside the park system, this can be expensive and time consuming to add to a vacation itinerary. I chose to pick one park and cross my fingers in the hopes of seeing tigers on safari. Pench has a healthy tiger population and so I gambled that I would have an increased chance of seeing a tiger.

While Bandhavgarh and Ranthambore are arguably the two most popular parks for tiger safari, I decided to choose a smaller park where I expected fewer crowds. The parks have a permitted limit for vehicles through each gate per day and a majority of our time in the park I didn’t see another jeep on the road. The day we had 2 tiger sightings both times only a couple of cars were also there observing the animals, so we had quiet, unobstructed views. 

So, how is Pench protecting their tigers?

National Parks in India have show a commitment to conservation and education of the species within their park systems. For instance, there are only 2 scheduled times vehicles can enter the park for safari outings. Once in the morning and a second slot in the late afternoon. In addition, during the monsoon season the park is closed to visitors allowing for the land to reclaim itself and for the animals to have a respite during the off season. 

Where to Stay Near Pench Tiger Reserve 

There are several places to stay around Pench. While you have your choice between luxury through budget accommodations, Pench Tree Lodge is by far and away the most unique and most dedicated to protecting the environment both within the park and neighboring villages. 

Pench Tree Lodge is located near the Karmajhiri Gate of the park, tucked away next Sarahiri, a small village. They have 40 acres of property with 6 cottages and 6 tree houses. With such vast land and few lodges, it really highlights the natural, serene landscape. 

If available, the tree house is where to stay. It has been carefully constructed from local materials with a design that compliments nature, not destroying it. The trees are stilted high enough to have an overlook of the property and you’ll be surprised when you open the door that a luxury suite awaits.  

Why Choose Pench Tree Lodge?

While viewing animals in the wild is never a guarantee, the naturalists at the lodge will be instrumental in increasing your chances to get a glimpse of a cat while visiting Pench. I had the chance to learn more about the area from naturalist Himani Singh Chouhan. Not only was she extremely knowledgable and kind, but she’s one of the only female naturalists in the region. 

Even if you don’t see a tiger while on safari, the food alone at Pench Tree Lodge is worth the trip. They have a garden where a majority of the ingredients for the dishes are grown. It was without question some of the best meals I’ve had in India. 

Whichever park you select, Pugdundee Safaris does a phenomenal job at providing beautiful accommodations while still championing conservation efforts. 

Getting to Pench Tree Lodge

Getting to Madhya Pradesh is easy, but takes time. Nagpur would be the closest transportation hub, where you can fly in or arrive by train. After your arrival, Pench can arrange a pick up which makes the 3 hour drive from Nagpur a breeze. It is beneficial to have distances like these padded into your itinerary. It will take about a half day in travel, but the experience is worth the long journey. 

Why Wildlife Conservation in India is Important 

There are certain species, like the tiger, that are endemic to the continent. While there are ways to see responsible wildlife throughout the world, places like Pench National Park are an important participant when it comes to showcasing a species. 

Tigers in their natural habitat are at the top of the food chain. That means when they are threatened, it can effect the balance of the rest of their ecosystems. Tigers are known as an “umbrella species”, an animal who’s protection can help in turn to protect other animals. 13 countries who have tigers within their borders have committed to doubling the population which is a big deal. This means that instead of promising to help safeguard the current population, they are committed to seeing it grow. Aside from Russia, tigers are mainly found in Asian countries and India has the highest number of tigers. The last several years, India has seen an increase in their tiger population, due to programs like Tx2 and Project Tiger. 

Today, there are 6 subspecies of tigers, 4 of which are considered endangered. The Bali, Caspian and Javan tigers all became extinct through the mid to late 1900’s. 

Tigers in order to survive need a few simple but specific things 

• places & an animals to hunt 
• water to drink  
• vegetation to live & hide 

Growing farmland and deforestation are one example of ways that these three keys factors can be eliminated simultaneously. As human populations increase, our need for land expansion continues and competes with wildlife for space. 

In addition, long standing traditions ancient Chinese medicine techniques facilitate poaching animals like the tiger for their bones, pelts or body parts. Demand for these medicinal ingredients make it tempting for residents of these regions to hunt tigers as a source of income. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) predicts that at least one tiger is killed daily for medicinal uses. 

So, what’s the solution?

Protecting habitats such as Pench are one of the major solutions for a long term survival strategy. Preserving a place for these animals to live and hunt is a way to ensure they continue to grow in numbers. Things like captive breeding and then reintroduction into the wild may also have an important place in the answers to moving these animals away from the endangered or threatened species list. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: While I was a guest of Pench Tree Lodge, as always, all of the opinions and thoughts are truly my own. In addition, there may be affiliate links within this post. That means at no extra cost, I earn a commission by clicking through or booking from a link within the post.