India’s heritage heartland, Madhya Pradesh is blessed with extensive spread of greenery and is the abode of several species of animals. Just 93 kms away from Nagpur, Pench National Park is a remarkable landmark of tourism, adorned with rich flora and fauna.
Unlike Ranthambore, Kanha and Bandhavgarh, Pench was a lesser known tiger reserve until the famous BBC’s documentary ‘Tiger Spy in the Jungle’ that was aired in 2008. The legendary tigress Collarwali T15 along with her 5 cubs contributed to the popularity of Pench National Park in 2011. Presently, Pench is one of the most efficiently managed national parks in Madhya Pradesh, and with constant conservation efforts of the Forest Department have resulted in the steep rise of tiger population in Pench. This is yet another reason for tourism acceleration in the national park.
Let’s get introduced to the eminent members of the royal family of Pench National Park.
1. Collarwali (T15) - The name was allocated to her because of the collar on her neck, but as per 2021 reports, the collar is no longer visible as it’s broken. Since her childhood, Collarwali has remained in the limelight of the photographers and has been quite used to it. The reason being, she and her siblings were under persistent surveillance by the Trunk cameras tied to the tracking elephants, while shooting for the BBC documentary ‘Tiger Spy in the Jungle’. The majestic tigress has also earned fame by giving birth to 30 tigers in 8 litters, as per 2021 reports. Few of her cubs unfortunately did not manage to survive for long. She is the only known tigress in the forest with 26 cubs.
2. Langdi - Langdi in Hindi means a lady with a broken limb. The tigress got her name Langdi as she walks in a manner as if she bears an injury in any of her limbs. A brave tigress and a delight to the visitors who come for safari, she has borne 6-7 cubs in 2 litters as per 2019 reports.
3. Patdev - Patdev is the offspring of female Collarwali and male Rayyakasa, borned in 2010. Initially the tigress landmarked her area in the northeastern side of Kalapahad temporarily. After the death of Bagginnallah Tigress, Patdev incorporated the southeastern side of the park into her territory.
4. Trishul - Trishul is a young male tiger often sighted in the year 2019-2020. Trishul is the trident weapon of Lord Shiva and the tiger was named so because of the trishul-like mark on his left cheek pointing downwards. Although being quite young, he is bold and strong enough to mark his territory in the core zone of the park.
5. L Mark - The handsome L-mark male tiger was born to female Langdi and male Rayyakasa in 2016. The cub can be easily identified with the L mark on his left cheek. This dominant tiger took charge of his father’s territory which encompasses Junewani waterhole, Salaitek, Bijamatta waterhole and Pyorthadi rocks.
