State

Madhya Pradesh

History

Altitude (above M.S.L.)

450 - 950 m

Until 1870 shift-cultivation prevailed in Kanha and unrestricted grazing was permitted until 1915. In 1935 the Banjer valley was declared a sanctuary and in 1955 expanded as a National Park. Kanha belongs to the initial nine Tiger Reserve that were constituted in 1973.

Area

Total

1945 km²

Core

940 km²

Buffer

1005 km²

Flora and Fauna

Kanha is an interspersion of flat hilltops, grassy expanses and dense and riverine forests. The reserve is rich in diversity and has distinguished itself in saving the Central Indian barasingha from extinction. This deer species is currently only found at Kanha. An estimated108 tigers are also found in this Tiger Reserve.

Temperature

- 2°C - 43°C

Rainfall (per annum)

1224 mm

Seasons

Winter

Nov - Feb

Summer

Mar - Jun

Monsoon

Jun - Oct

Fauna

Tiger, leopard, spotted deer, sambar, barasingha, barking deer, chousingha, gaur, langur, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, wild dog, etc.

Forest Types

Southern Tropical Moist and Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest,
Peninsular Sal Forests

Funds

Sufficient

Management Objectives

Staff

Understaffed

A major objective is to relocate existing settlements, with their livestock from the core zone. Eco development and anti-poaching are also important activities.

Problems

Surrounding domestic livestock always risk an outbreak of infectious diseases. Rinderpest has previously occurred here. Some areas of the forest are infected by sal borer. Fire incidences have been kept at a minimum and poaching is taking place, but not on a huge scale.

External Influences (1991 census)

Villages

196

Human population

100,000

Livestock numbers

80,000