General Information

• Floristically, this Tiger Reserve is a part of Indo-Malaya realm, whereas Zoo-geographically, it is a member of the oriental region. 
• According to the biogeographic classification of the Wildlife Institute of India (Rodgers and Panwar 1988), it lies in the Zone- 6E Deccan Peninsula Central Highland

(i) Flora : 

• The undulating topography supports mosaic of vegetation ranging from moist, sheltered valleys to open, dry deciduous forest. 
• Over 1200 species of plants have been recorded from the area. 
• This includes several rare and endangered plants as well as plants of ethno-botanical importance.

(ii) Forest Type :

The forests in Pench tiger reserve are classified into three types:

• South Indian Tropical Moist Deciduous (slightly moist)
• Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Teak Forests and
• Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest
• Much of the area even under teak forests supports good grass cover and is consequently a fine habitat for herbivores, especially the Spotted deer.

(iii) Fauna : 

• The area is dominated by fairly open canopy mixed forests with considerable shrub cover and open grassy patches. 
• This high habitat heterogeneity favors high population of Chital, Sambar, Wild boar & Blue bull. Another factor is the availability of doob grass (Cynodondaxctylon) during the late winter and early summer months in the drawdown area, which provides highly nutritious forage to the herbivores. 
• Pench tiger reserve has of the highest density of herbivores (90.3 animals per square kilometer) and the second highest prey base biomass in India after Nagarhole (6013 Kg per square kilometer). 
• The area supports large number of Gaur (Indian Bison), Sambar, Barking deer, Chousingha, Chinkara and Wild boar.

• The key predator is the Tiger followed by Leopard, Wild Dog and Wolf. Other animals include Jackal, Fox, Palm civet, Small Indian civet, Jungle cat, Common mongoose, Small Indian mongoose, Ruddy mongoose, Hyena, Porcupine, Ratel. 
• There are over 325 species of resident and migratory birds including the Malabar Pied hornbill, Indian Pitta, Osprey, Grey-headed fishing eagle, White eyed buzzard, 6 species of vultures etc. 
• In winter thousands of migratory waterfowl including Brahminy duck, Pintail duck, barheaded geese, Coots, Pochards, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard etc visit the tanks and reservoir within the park. 
• Pench Tiger Reserve is also among the best area for bird watching. The other fauna present include 50 species of fishes, 13 amphibians, 37 reptiles, 105 butterflies, 100 Moths, 20 spiders, 35 dragon and damsel fly and numerous other insects.