Panna National Park
Perched
at the Vindhyan hill range, the Panna National park stretches over Panna and
Chhatarpur districts in the northern part of the Indian state of Madhya
Pradesh (M.P.). The national reserve was created in 1981 and later enrolled
under Project Tiger Reserve in 1994,
The Reserve's most undisturbed habitat of about 70-80 sq. km. lies on the
Hinouta plateau. This is due to relocation of three villages from this area
in 1980s. Dry and short grass habitat with and chinkara. The areas with tall
grasses associated with woodland, support good densities of sambar and
chital. Mesic areas are distributed along the major seasonal streams and in
the Ken river valley. Steep slopes of plateaus are driver and are dominated
by Acacia catechu. Distribution of these habitats creates a heterogeneous
landscape, where ecological conditions vary seasonally.
Location of Panna National Park :
Panna National Park is situated in the central Indian state of Madhya
Pradesh. It is one of the best in the region. Satna, at a distance of around
90 km, is the nearest railway station. It is a major railway hub and
connected to many places in central and western India, the most important of
them being Mumbai at distance of 1,540 km. The nearest airport is at
Khajuraho at a distance of around 57 km from the Panna National Park. There
are daily Alliance Air flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Varanasi from Khajuraho.
Panna national park is well connected with the other parts of the region by
a good network of roads. Distances of some important places in India from
the Panna National Park are Khajuraho 57 km, Bhopal 727 km.
Wildlife at Panna National Park :
Panna national park is majorly inhabited by deer, of which the most easily
sighted are the graceful little Chinkara, the Indian gazelle, and the
Chital. Other species in the park are Nilgai, Sambar, Chausingha or
four-horned Antelope, Blackbuck, Sloth Bear, Leopard and the ubiquitous
common Langur. Tiger Panthera tigris (occasional), leopard Panthera pardus,
striped Hyaena , jackal Canis aureus, jungle cat Felis chaus) chital Axis
axis, sambar Cervus unicolor, nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, four-horned
antelope (chowsingha) Tetracerus quadricornis, wild boar Sus scrofa,
chinkara (mountain gazelle) Gazella, crocodile and others.
Chirpy Birds! :
Panna is a natural paradise for birds. The avi fuana species included in
the park are the barheaded geese, duck and spoonbills and on the shores
flocks od demoiselle cranes. Around Chandpata, the artificial lake at the
national park, is the winter home of migratory Geese, Pochard, Pintail,
Teal, Mallard Gadwall, Red Wattled Lapwing, Large Pied Wagtail, Pond Heron,
White - Breasted Kingfisher, Cormorant, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Laggar
Falcon, Purple Sunbird, Paradise Flycatcher and Golden Oriole.
Best Seasons :
The best time to explore the wildlife at the park is during the cooler
months; in summer the heat can take on furnace-like proportions.
