Kanha Tiger Reserve
Nestled in the ranges of the Satpuras Hills in Madhya Pradesh and abounding in Sal and mixed forests, Kanha was one of the first 9 Project Tiger areas initiated in 1973. The total area covers 1945 sq. kms with a core area of 940 sq. kms. The area was enlarged after Project Tiger was initiated and still awaits final legal notification. The tiger population was said to be 48 in 1976 and is estimated today at 100.
Through intensive protection of the natural habitat and the wildlife, and also by turning back the tide of human encroachment in Kanha, it was possible to retrieve the previous ecological loss. Kanha once again resembles what Forsythe, Brander and Kipling had observed decades back.
To free the core area from human interference, 26 villages were removed; the villagers had to be motivated to volunteer to leave their ancestral lands. This in itself was an achievement. The deserted villages have given rise to various interesting developments in animal ecology and behaviour. Total fire protection has caused tremendous improvement in the water regime, which has given a new dimension to the flora, especially the grasses, herbs and shrubs.
Barasingha Deer Recovery
The Barasingha deer bounced back. The causes of its earlier decline are now attributed to human disturbance. But a change of behaviour by packs of jackals, many of whom have taken to predating on fawns of chitals or the extremely limited black bucks, still remains a matter of research, especially as the future of the Black buck in Kanha appears to be threatened by this predation.
Problems Remain
But there has been some ominous development posing problems for the management. Some disgruntled villagers are unhappy, seemingly because the protected area (Kanha) has beenclosed to them, denying them their traditional subsistence supply from the forests.
Eco-Tourism Potential
Massive eco-development planning is underway, but this may take a little time. It may prove to be the most crucial step in wildlife conservation. With the burgeoning pressure on the land from an ever increasing human population, there seems to be no alternative to proper eco-development for ensuring ecological stability in the future.
Through intensive protection of the natural habitat and the wildlife, and also by turning back the tide of human encroachment in Kanha, it was possible to retrieve the previous ecological loss. Kanha once again resembles what Forsythe, Brander and Kipling had observed decades back. To free the core area from human interference, 26 villages were removed; the villagers had to be motivated to volunteer to leave their ancestral lands. This in itself was an achievement. The deserted villages have given rise to various interesting developments in animal ecology and behaviour. Total fire protection has caused tremendous improvement in the water regime, which has given a new dimension to the flora, especially the grasses, herbs and shrubs.
Barasingha Deer Recovery
The Barasingha deer bounced back. The causes of its earlier decline are now attributed to human disturbance. But a change of behaviour by packs of jackals, many of whom have taken to predating on fawns of chitals or the extremely limited black bucks, still remains a matter of research, especially as the future of the Black buck in Kanha appears to be threatened by this predation.
Problems Remain
But there has been some ominous development posing problems for the management. Some disgruntled villagers are unhappy, seemingly because the protected area (Kanha) has beenclosed to them, denying them their traditional subsistence supply from the forests.
Eco-Tourism Potential
Massive eco-development planning is underway, but this may take a little time. It may prove to be the most crucial step in wildlife conservation. With the burgeoning pressure on the land from an ever increasing human population, there seems to be no alternative to proper eco-development for ensuring ecological stability in the future.
| Mammals of Kanha Barasingha deer, leopard, wolf, bison, sloth bear, sambhar, chittal, barking deer, four horned deer, jackal, langur, neelgai, fox, wild dog, flying squirrel, mongoose, ratel, civets many others make Kanha their home. | Some birds that can be found in Kanha Racket tailed drongo, crested hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, peacock, golden oriole, treepie, whitenecked stork, shikra, white-eyed buzzard, rose-ringed parakeet, shama, red munia, large green barbet, crimson breasted barbet, lesser golden backed woodpecker, hair crested drongo, common teal, pintail duck. |
| Kanha Reptiles Indian monitor lizard, Indian python, cobra, saw-scaled viper, common wolf snake, krait, rat snake, fan throated lizard, flying lizard, chameleon. |
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