Pench National Park is a wild playground harbouring the country’s maximum density of prey animals, chased by an estimated 65 Tigers. In 1983, it was declared a National Park and in 1992, a tiger reserve. The park’s rich biodiversity and well-preserved habitats make it a haven not only for tigers of Pench but also for a variety of other fascinating wildlife species.
Pench Tiger Reserve is spread across 1,180sq km, including a buffer zone of 768sq km. Pench National Park is situated under the Seoni and Chhindwara administrative districts of Madhya Pradesh and shares the southern boundary with Maharashtra and hence is accessible from Maharashtra. Pench Tiger Reserve comprises “Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and the buffer forest. Pench is a land of delightful splendour.
Myriad flora and fauna inhabit these stunning jungles. Tigers, Indian leopards, sloth bears, several varieties of spotted deer, nilgais, sambhar, chinkara, etc, wild dogs, gaurs and not to forget Kipling’s adoptive family for Mowgli – the wolves. Pench is an idyllic land for bird watching, boasting of over 210 species of birds.
There are three gates for the core to access Pench National Park from Madhya Pradesh – Turia Gate, Karmajhiri Gate and Jamatra Gate. Pench National Park also offers safari in buffer zones including Teliya Buffer, Khawasa, Buffer, Kumbhpani-Tekadi Buffer and Rukad Buffer. Sometimes visitors book resorts in Pench National Park based on these gates.
Here are the Top 11 Famous Tigers of Pench National Park
Pench Tiger Reserve was never a popular destination for tiger tourism as compared to its neighbouring tiger-centric parks like Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore, and Kanha. Pench became more famous after BBC’s documentary “Tiger Spy in The Jungle” which was shot from 2005-2007 and was aired in 2008.
The park became famous in 2011 because of The Legendary Tigris Collarwali (T-15) with her 5 Cub. Ever since Pench has been one of the well-managed parks in Madhya Pradesh and because of the conservation efforts from the Forest Department, it has shown positive changes in the wild.
1. L. Mark (T74)
L. Mark (T74) came to be known so because of a prominent L mark on his left cheek. 11 years of age, he is one of the dominant males of Pench covering about 80 % of the core tourism area (Sitaghat, Jhandimatta, Kullutek, Kalapahad, Junivani, Bijamatta, Backwaters, Sapat, Pyorthadi) and is even known to cover the non tourism area which extends to the Maharashtra state. In the core area, about 5 females territory falls under the area he covers.
This season (2023-2024) he has been seen mating with Kalapahad female and Bijamatta female.
2. Swastik
Swastik is 6-7-year-old tiger, with a prominent swastik symbol on his right cheek. He is another dominant male of Pench covering about 40 % of the core tourism area Juniwani, 25no, Baghinalla, Patdev, Alijhod, Jhandimatta and is seen extending his territory along Sitaghat, Rayakassa, Kullutek and Murumgadda this season, marking the trees and areas where L.Mark rules trying to cover the territory of 3 more females.
He has been seen with the Laksmi tigress quite often this season and once in the area of Kalapahad female (Fireline Kalapahad area) and Langdi tigress (Jodamudara and Sagovan).
3. Kumbha Male
Kumbha male named after Local deity Kumbha dev whose temple is on the western side of the forest from where he comes, trying to intrude and expand his area into the core and Kumbhpani buffer. Although just 5-6 years of age, his huge size, and shy nature towards the vehicles and area he comes from, suggest probably he would have probably grown up in the buffer of Tikadi as a cattle lifter.
He was first sighted during the beginning of season 2022. Having sired the cubs of Flying bird female this year he is seen to expand his territory more into the core trying to cover Tigress Lakshmi’s territory (Jhandimatta, Kullutek and sometimes Sherjhodi).
His huge head size owing to his thick mane and beard is a prominent feature for this male. He is sometimes sighted with small wounds or even limping suggesting that he has put up a fight with the other 2 dominant males.
4. Langdi (T20)
Langdi (T20) was born with a twisted right front leg which gave her the name Langdi. Aged 16.6 years, the tigress has delivered 5 litters and 17 cubs in her lifetime. The oldest tiger in Pench now is covering only a limited area between Sagovan and Hathigota.
At times she surprises by visiting the waterbodies (Sitaghat, Murumgadda, Mahadev ghat) that she used to cover during her prime time. She shocked everyone with her hunting skills recently when she brought down a wild boar in the area between Alikatta (breakfast point) and Murumgadda water body with 15 jeeps watching her in awe!
She was also seen fighting and taking the sambhar deer kill from a young female tigress at Sitaghat. She is one of the cubs of Badimada (mother of the famous Collarwali tigress).
5. Lakshmi’s Tigress
Lakshmi’s tigress has a prominent Lmark on her left cheek which probably she would have inherited from her father Lmark male – the guides started calling her Lakshmi after the Hindu Goddess of wealth and beauty.
Mere 3.6 years old, she is the youngest female in the park now and has become the most frequently sighted tigress in the park. She covers Jhandimatta, Kullutek, Sitaghat, Rayakassa, Murumgadda, Malkundam, Patdev, Alijhod.
She has taken over her mother Langdi’s territory. With all three dominant males prowling in her area, it is a huge challenge for her to bring her first litter up in future. She is often sighted with a Swastik male.
6. Patdev (T04)
Patdev ( T04) was named after the Patdev area that she covers. 14 years of age she has delivered 5 litters and 19 cubs and was born in 2010 to Rayakassa male and the famous Collarwali female (queen of Pench ) from her 3rd litter.
T04 took some time to landmark her area and settled in the northeastern side of Kalapahad temporarily. After some time her Aunt Baginnallah Tigress who was settled in the southeastern area of the park, suddenly died due to a poisoning done in one of her waterholes, which then further became the territory of this beautiful female.
As she covers a pretty big area of about 30 sq km, covering Baginnallah waterhole, Bondwal Dogri, Alijhod Nayatalab, and Bodhanalah makes her one of the strongest tigresses in the reserve. Two out of four cubs which survived in her latest litter are currently getting independent.
7. Flying Bird
Flying bird got this unique name owing to one of her belly stripes that looks like a bird flying. 6 years old she has delivered 1 litter and 3 cubs. 60 percent of her territory falls under the Kumbhpani buffer and 40 percent of her territory in the core includes the area starting from the Karmajhiri gate to Gursal ghat, Sajja Talab and Jhandimatta talab.
She also sighted at Basnala and Baramod Road. Part of her territory overlaps with Lakshmi Tigress territory. Her current litter has 3 male cubs who are in the stage of becoming independent from their mother.
Know More: Leopards of Pench National Park
8. Bijamatta Female (Daughter of Langdi)
Bijamatta female (Daughter of Langdi) was named after the water body (Bijamatta thalab) which falls under her territory. 11 years old tigress has delivered 4 litter and 14 cubs. This shy female is known to cover the backwater area of Pench –Pyorthadi, Chindimatta, Sapat, and Bijamatta till the Kalapahad has successfully brought up her current litter of 4 cubs sired by L mark to adulthood.
She was once seen shooing off her daughter – the Kalapahad female from the Fireline to protect her cubs from the current litter.
9. Kalapahad Female
Kalapahad female named after the area she is sighted frequently in is a young female of the park who covers Fireline, Kalapahad, Saath mod, 25 no camp. Aged 3.6 years she has been often seen with L-mark male this season around the Bijamatta Talab area.
She has taken part of the territory from her mother Bijamatta female and a part by winning Langdi and Lakshmi thus taking over the famous fireline waterhole under her. She is yet to have her first litter.
10. Baghinnala Female
The new Baghinnala female is named after the water body (naya baghinalla talab) that falls under her territory. She is also called Baghnehwali as she is shy and runs off seeing vehicles. Aged 9 years she has delivered 4 litters and 13 cubs.
Born to Baghinalla female, she is very rarely sighted as she is shy to the vehicles and most of her territory falls under buffer in core she covers Baghinalla thalab, 25 no camp, Junewani talab to Camera mod. She currently has 3 cubs who are about 6 months old.
11. Sitaghat Female
Sitaghat female is a new female from the non-tourism area on the other side of the river. Often sighted along with her three cubs from the river view point Sitaghat. She was once seen losing her kill to Langdi Tigress. She has not been seen in the core area yet and is often sighted on the dried river bed or the other side.
Contribute by Deepa Rakshana & Radhe Nagpure – Naturalist at Pench Tree Lodge
For an unforgettable tiger safari experience, staying at one of the premium resorts in Pench allows you to immerse yourself in the park’s wildlife-rich surroundings while providing comfortable accommodations and easy access to prime tiger habitats.