How tiger conservation supports wildlife in India’s Kanha-Pench landscape
In Madhya Pradesh — known as India's "tiger state" — more than 300 tigers live in Kanha Tiger Reserve, Pench National Park, and the forest corridor in between. As apex predators, tigers play a vital role in maintaining the balance of their environment. Look through the gallery to learn about the other wildlife living in the Kanha-Pench landscape.
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Every species plays a role in the ecosystem. Chital, also known as spotted deer, live in large populations across India and at Kanha. These deer are one of the tiger's main sources of food — this prevents the deer population from growing too large, which could lead to the loss of flora and vegetation.
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Tigers aren't the only big cat in India: leopards, which live across a vast geographic range from Africa to East Asia, are found here too. Tiger conservation often clashes with leopard welfare, as tigers compete with and displace leopards — however, recent surveys estimated that Madhya Pradesh is home to around 25% of the nation's known leopard population.
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Sloth bears are unrelated to their namesake, except in their unkempt, sleepy appearance. Their numbers have been declining for years due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, and the latest IUCN assessment expects their numbers to decline by more than 30% by 2050.
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Common throughout India, the golden jackal is also found in Kanha Tiger Reserve. These fox-like creatures, which are part of the wolf family, are opportunistic scavengers that often feed on tigers' leftovers.
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With distinctive silver fur and black faces, gray langurs are a type of "old world monkey" found across India — and Kanha is home to a large population. One of their greatest threats is human-wildlife conflict, so the reserve gives them the opportunity to flourish.
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The Barasingha, also known as "swamp deer," suffered huge declines in its population in the early 20th century, due to habitat loss and extensive hunting. Kanha Tiger Reserve is the last refuge of the hard-ground subspecies, with an estimated 300 individuals. Conservation work in the landscape tries to drive the tiger population away from the deer's grazing grounds, to give them a chance to bounce back.
Native to South Asia, the peafowl is India's national bird. The male bird, known as a peacock, is famous for its striking tail — a fan of more than 150 turquoise, blue, and green feathers. Peafowl are found across India, and have been protected since 1972.
Maintaining the forest ecosystem helps local people, too: around 600,000 people live in 715 villages in the Kanha-Pench corridor, and rely on the forest for their sustenance and livelihoods. Kanha's thriving tiger population -- like these two Bengal cubs -- helps to keep the environment in balance.
