Kanha tiger reserve is spread over Hallon and Banjar river valleys of Satpura range. It is a very beautiful forest spread over Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh. This scenic forest is dominated with sal trees and offers natural habitat to many mammal species, including some endangered wildlife species. Here we have shared some important information on prominent mammal species which we may encounter during jungle safari drives at this tiger reserve.
Kanha forest is spread over Satpura - Maikal hills. During safari drive we can find varying landscapes which includes some plateau area, ravines, meadows and grassland areas. These mixed landscapes are ideal to accommodate varying mammal species. Thus doing jungle safari in Kanha national park is exciting moments for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. Lets go through our version of mammals checklist to know more about popular safari attractions.
Species | Common Name | Local Name | Scientific Name | Popular Sighting Areas |
Cats | Tiger | Bagh / Sher | Panthera tigris | All core & buffer zones |
Leopard /Panther | Tendua / Gulbagh | Panthera pardus | Kisli, Kanha, Mukki | |
Jungle Cat | Junglee Billi | Felis chaus | Khapa, Sijhora, Khatia | |
Antelopes, Gazelles | Blue Bull | Nilgai | Boselaphus tragocamelus | Sarhi, Sijhora, Khatia, Phen |
Chinkara | Chinkara | Gazella gazella | Sarhi, Kanha, Sijhora | |
Four-horned Antelope | Chowsingha | Tetraceros quadricornis | Kisli, Kanha, Mukki | |
Bovine | Indian Gaur | Gaur | Bos gaurus | Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, Sarhi, Khatia, Phen |
Dogs | Wolf | Bhediya | Canis lupus | Khatia, Sarhi, Sijhora (rare sighting) |
Indian Wild Dog | Dhole/Sone Kutta/Jungle Kutta | Cuon alpinus | Mukki, Kanha, Kisli, Khapa | |
Jackal | Gidhar / Siyar | Canis aureus | Kanha, Mukki, Kisli, Sarhi, Khatia | |
Indian Fox | Lomdi | Vulpes bengalensis | Khatia, Khapa, Sijhora | |
Deer | Sambar | Sambar | Cervus unicolor | Whole forest area |
Spotted Deer | Chital | Axis axis | Whole forest area | |
Muntjac/Barking Deer | Kakar | Muntiacus muntjak | Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, Sarhi | |
Hyaena | Striped Hyaena | Lakar-baggha | Hyaena hyaena | Khatia, Sijhora (rare sighting) |
Bears | Sloth Bear | Bhalu / Reech | Melursus ursinus | Khatia, Kanha, Kisli, Mukki |
Apes, Monkeys,Lemurs | Common Langur | Langur | Presbytis entellus | Whole forest area |
Rehus Macaque | Bandar | Macaca mulatta | Outskirts of tiger reserve | |
Pig | Wild Boar | Junglee Suar | Sus scrofa | Kanha, Mukki, Kisli, Sarhi, Khatia |
Civets | Small Indian Civet | Kasturi | Viverricula indica | Khatia, Khapa, Sijhora |
Common Palm Civet | Kasturi | Paradoxurus hermaphroditus | Khatia zone | |
Weasels | Honey Badger | Kabar Bijoo | Melivora capensis | Khapa, Khatia |
Mongoose | Ruddy Mongoose | Nevla | Herpestes smithii | Occasionally seen in core & buffer zones |
Common Mongoose | Nevla | Herpestes edwardsi | Occasionally seen in core & buffer zones | |
Pangolins | Indian Pangolin | Chinti Khor | Manis crassicaudata | Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, Khatia |
Insectivores | Indian Tree Shrew | Bans Gilahri | Anathana ellioti | Sarhi, Sijhora, Khatia, Kisli |
Grey Musk Shrew | Chachunder | Suncus murinus | Sarhi, Khapa, Mukki, Kanha | |
Bats | Fulvous Fruit Bat | Chamgadar | Rousettus leschenaulti | Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, Khatia |
Flying Fox | Chamgadar | Pteropus giganteus | Khatia, Kanha, Khapa, Phen | |
Indain False Vampire | Chamgadar | Megaerma lyra | Khatia, Kanha, Sihora | |
Indian Pipistrelle | Chamgadar | Pipistrellus coromandra | Khatia, Kanha, Mukki zones | |
Rodents | Five-striped Squirrel | Gilahri | Funambulus pennati | Kanha, Kisli, Mukki |
Indian Porcupine | Sehi | Hystrix indica | Kanha, Kisli, Mukki | |
Indian Mole Rat | Chuha | Bandicota bengalensis | Khatia, Khapa, Sarhi | |
Hares | Indian Hare | Khargosh | Lepus nigricollis | Khatia, Khapa, Sarhi, Sijhora |