- Location & Overview
- Situated in: Mandla and Balaghat districts, Madhya Pradesh.
- Eco-region: Central Indian Highlands — part of the Satpura–Maikal landscape, a key tiger conservation belt.
- Historical Background
- 1955: Declared Wildlife Sanctuary.
- 1955: Upgraded to National Park.
- 1973: Included under Project Tiger, becoming one of India’s first nine Tiger Reserves.
- Today: Managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Physical Features
- Terrain: Rolling meadows, dense sal forests, and bamboo thickets.
- Elevation: 450–900 m above sea level.
- Major Rivers:
- Banjar River (tributary of Narmada) flows through the park.
- Halon River flows in the eastern section.
- Climate: Tropical monsoon — hot summers, moderate rainfall (~1,500 mm annually), and cool winters.
- Flora
- Dominant Vegetation Type: Moist and dry deciduous forest of the Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest type (Champion & Seth classification).
- Major Tree Species:
- Sal (Shorea robusta) — dominant species.
- Saja (Terminalia tomentosa)
- Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon)
- Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus)
- Mahua (Madhuca indica) and Palash (Butea monosperma)
- Fauna
- Flagship Species: Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
- Other Mammals:
- Leopard, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog (Dhole), Indian Bison (Gaur), Sambar, Barasingha (Swamp Deer)
- Barasingha Conservation:
- Kanha is world-famous for reviving the Hard Ground Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi) from near extinction (only ~66 in 1970s).
- The Barasingha is state animal of Madhya Pradesh.
- The species is found only in Kanha — a major conservation success story.
- Birds: Over 300 species including Green Munia, Indian Roller, Black Ibis, Grey Hornbill.
- Ecological Significance
- Forms part of the Satpura–Maikal Tiger Landscape, connecting with Pench, Bandhavgarh, and Achanakmar reserves — vital for tiger gene flow.
- Houses unique grassland ecosystems (“maidans”) such as Sondra, Bishanpura, and Sonf meadows, important for herbivore populations.
- Recognized as one of the best-managed parks in India by the NTCA and MoEFCC.
- Conservation & Management
- Implemented under: Project Tiger and Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH).
- Community Engagement: Eco-development committees promote sustainable livelihoods for local Baiga and Gond tribes.
- Anti-Poaching Initiatives: Use of e-surveillance, camera traps, and SMART patrol system.
- Tourism Management: Kanha is divided into four tourism zones — Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, and Sarhi.
- Threats
- Habitat Fragmentation: Increasing human settlements and infrastructure near buffer zones.
- Forest Fires & Grazing Pressure: Seasonal burning and cattle intrusion.
- Tourism Pressure: Need for regulation to prevent ecological degradation.
- Climate Variability: Changes in rainfall and temperature patterns affecting grassland regeneration.
- UPSC Relevance
Prelims Pointers
| Category | Detail |
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Rivers | Banjar, Halon |
| Forest Type | Tropical Moist & Dry Deciduous (Sal-dominant) |
| Key Species | Tiger, Barasingha, Gaur, Dhole |
| Established | National Park (1955), Tiger Reserve (1973) |
| UNESCO Status | Proposed site for World Heritage Natural Landscape |
| Conservation Highlight | Revival of Hard Ground Barasingha |