11 Jul, 2024

Wildlife Aficionados Flocking to Panna Tiger Reserve, a Growing Hotspot for Tiger Sightings in India

Panna Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh has seen a huge influx of tourists visiting in 2024 and has become an emerging wildlife destination for tiger sightings since the latest footfall data was released. Several individuals have been flocking to the wildlife destination, including naturalists, nature photographers, and enthusiasts of wildlife.

Footfall received at Panna Tiger Reserve in the first half of 2024

Although due to the ascend of monsoon season, core zones have been closed, this didn’t let travellers and wildlife adventurers sit idly as the buffer zones of the area have a lot to offer. The buffer zone under the "Buffer Me Safar Scheme" is inundated with visitors during the monsoons which led to the continuity of tiger sightings in Panna Tiger Reserve.

Panna has been a tourist hotspot due to tiger sightings and is highly reflecting wildlife tourism. The core area had 2,18,303 tourists, including 2,06,647 Indians and 11,656 International tourists this season. In addition, 15,740 tourists visited the buffer zone, consisting of 882 International visitors and 14,858 Indian visitors, all resulting in the highest revenue count.

Tiger sighting increases in Panna Tiger Reserve

With increased visitor numbers and larger revenues raised, the tiger sightings in the park have set records for itself. According to the last count, Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) is home to a huge range of flora and fauna among which 90 tigers, 64 of which are adult and semi-adult. Also, the number of tigers in Panna is increasing more quickly, which is making wildlife managers think of better maintenance and increasing the grassland area.

During the monsoon, the PTR's core zone is restricted to tourists, but the buffer is open to everyone as there is also a dense tiger population in the buffer area. October will see the reopening of the core area which will result in resuming the boating facilities along with tiger safaris.

New Project to be started soon

On the project, Pench Tiger Reserve has begun work to prevent tigers from getting out of the perimeter. During the project, it is chosen to move cheetals from the core zone to the buffer approximately sixty cheetals (spotted deer) will be captured in the first phase and relocated to the buffer zone from the Gumatara and Karmajhiri ranges.

Panna Tiger Reserve News Inputs.