Panna Tiger Reserve, located in Madhya Pradesh, India, is renowned for its diverse wildlife and scenic landscapes spread across an area of approximately 543 square kilometers. Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1981 and later declared a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1994, Panna is known for its successful conservation efforts and biodiversity.

Flora and Fauna
Panna Tiger Reserve is home to a variety of wildlife species, including the Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, and several species of deer such as sambar, chital, and barking deer. The reserve is also known for its rich avian diversity with over 200 species recorded, including the critically endangered vulture species.

The vegetation of Panna comprises mainly dry deciduous forests interspersed with grasslands, rivers, and rocky terrain. The Ken River flows through the reserve, providing a vital lifeline and creating a diverse habitat for wildlife.

Conservation Success
Panna Tiger Reserve has seen remarkable conservation success, particularly with its tiger population. After facing local extinction of tigers due to poaching and habitat loss, the reserve implemented a successful reintroduction program. Tigers were reintroduced from other reserves, and their population has steadily increased, making Panna a significant tiger conservation success story.

Eco-Tourism and Visitor Experience
Panna offers a range of eco-tourism activities that allow visitors to explore its natural beauty and wildlife. Safari experiences include jeep safaris and boat safaris on the Ken River, providing opportunities to observe tigers and other wildlife in their natural habitat. The reserve also promotes responsible tourism practices to minimize environmental impact and maximize conservation benefits.

Challenges and Conservation Efforts
Panna Tiger Reserve faces ongoing challenges, including habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and threats from poaching and illegal mining activities. Conservation efforts include habitat restoration, anti-poaching measures, and community engagement initiatives to promote conservation awareness and sustainable livelihoods among local communities.

Accessibility
Panna Tiger Reserve is accessible from major cities like Khajuraho and Satna. The reserve's visitor facilities include safari lodges, interpretation centers, and guided tours that educate visitors about the importance of wildlife conservation and the unique biodiversity of the region.

In conclusion, Panna Tiger Reserve stands as a testament to effective wildlife conservation practices, showcasing the successful recovery of its tiger population while offering memorable wildlife experiences and promoting sustainable tourism in the heart of India.





 

Flora

The plateau areas are characterized by savannah forests with very thin vegetation and continuous grass cover, where dry deciduous scrub forests are seen. The slopes are filled with dense forests of various types as described above. Bamboo associations are seen only on the slopes. The Anogeissus pendula forest is an edaphic sub-type (on specific rock type i.e., conglomerate) which occurs  mainly in a long strip of small width( 0.5-1.0 km) on the foothills from Pipartola to Gangau dam on the banks of Ken River. Sterculia urens (Kullu) is in abundance with good regeneration.

Fauna

PTR is among the important Protected Area in the Central Indian Highlands complex, for its structural diversity and wide array of fauna, including the key species-Tiger. PTR supports a sizable
population of Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus), Leopard (Panthera pardus) and Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena). Other prominent carnivores are Jackal (Canis aureus), Wolf, Wild Dog (Cuonalpinus), Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) and Rusty Spotted Cat. The major ungulates that form prey for these carnivores are Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Chital (Axis axis), Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), Chinkara (Gazella bennetti), Four-Horned Antelope (Tetraceros quadricornis) and Wild Pig (Sus scrofa). The Common Langur (Presbytis entellus) is widespread, while Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mullata) is found only along the forest peripheries closer to human habitations. There are over 150 species of birds, and the important breeding birds include Marshall's Iora (Aegithina nigrolutea), White-bellied Minivet (Pericrocotus erythropygius) and Striated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris), besides a variety of Galliformes including Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), Painted Spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata) and Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus). The area is known for its good vulture population. The rock cliffs with ledges provide a good habitat for the rock nesting vultures. Egyptian vulture, Long billed vulture, White backed vulture and Red headed vulture are resident species. Eurasian, Himalayan griffon vultures and Cinereous vultures are migratory. The area also supports over 10 species of Reptiles, and over 50 species of fishes including two globally threatened Masheer species (Tortor, Tor putitora), popularly known as 'King of Freshwater Fishes of India'.

By Road
Panna is well connected by road to Bhopal, for which you can take the NH 86 via Chhatarpur and the National Highway NH 75. The distance is around 372 km and you may take 8h 10min to cover this distance. If you are travelling from Mumbai the distance is about 1144 km and you must take the NH52 to cover this distance which might take you almost 22h. You can take the Taj Express Highway if you are coming from Delhi. This distance of 751 km can be covered in a little over 14h. Kolkata is almost 24h away from Panna by road.

By Rail
How To Reach Panna National ParkPhotograph by amarujala.com
There are two railheads near Panna National Park. The first of these is Khajuraho. However, please check up your rail connectivity to this station. The National Park is 94 km from Khajuraho and it takes 2h 42min to cover the distance using NH39 and MP SH49. The second railhead is Satna which is 90 km away. Once again all trains do not stop here. The nearest railhead of importance is Jhansi which is 176 km from the Park. This is a major railhead and almost all cities are connected to Jhansi by rail.

By Air
Khajuraho, 27 km away from the Park, is the nearest airport. Khajuraho is well connected by air to cities that include Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. There are taxis available at the airport to take you to the Park.