Physiography, geology, climate, and precipitation are responsible for deciding the types of vegetation and habitats of wild animals in a wildlife ecosystem. The tiger reserve supports a wide range of floral and faunal biodiversity, including trees, shrubs, grass, mammals, birds, reptiles and the lesser life forms.
Kanha is a repository of around 850 species of 10 varieties of Angiosperms belonging to 506 genera and 134 families, and 22 species of Pteridophyte belonging to 14 genera and 14 families. The above floral diversity also includes 2 species of Gymnosperm belonging to 2 genera and 2 families. The above flora of the also includes around 50 species of aquatic plants and 18 species of rare plants. Besides tigers, leopards and wild dogs, Kanha is also renowned for thousands of ungulates of at least 9 major species: chital (Axis axis), sambar (Cervus unicolor), barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), chousingha (Tetracerus quadricornis), gaur (Bos gaurus), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), wild pig (Sus scrofa), and the recently reintroduced blackbuck. There are over 325 species of birds, 18 species of lesser mammals, 39 of reptiles, around 500 of insects, 114 of spiders and around 150 species of butterflies. Camera-traps have also captured some uncommonly sighted species such as the mouse deer, rusty spotted cat and small Indian civet etc. The heterogeneity of habitats influences the local distribution of mammals. The presence of the mosaics of meadows within the woodland, being large expanses of herbage availability, also has a bearing on the concentrations of herbivores.
Apart from the above two endangered species, some other wildlife species of different status as per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2010.2 and the Schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, are as under:
Name of Species |
Scientific Name |
IUCN Status |
WPA Schedule |
Tiger |
Panthera tigris tigris |
Endangered |
I |
Leopard |
Panthera
pardus |
Near
Threatened |
I |
Dhole |
Cuon alpinus |
Endangered |
II |
Sloth
bear |
Melursus
ursinus |
Vulnerable |
I |
Hyena
|
Hyaena
hyaena |
Near
Threatened |
III |
Wolf
|
Canis
lupus |
Least
Concern |
I |
Jackal
|
Canis
aureus |
Least
Concern |
II |
Swamp
deer |
Rucervus
duvaucelii branderi |
Vulnerable |
I |
Chital
|
Axis axis |
Least
Concern |
III |
Sambar
|
Cervus
unicolor |
Vulnerable |
III |
Barking
deer |
Muntiacus
muntjak |
Least
Concern |
III |
Nilgai
|
Boselaphus
tragocamelus |
Least
Concern |
III |
Gaur |
Bos
gaurus |
Vulnerable |
I |
Four-horned
antelope |
Tetracerus
quadricornis |
Vulnerable |
I |
Wild
pig |
Sus
scrofa |
Least
Concern |
III |
Langur |
Presbytis
entellus |
- |
II |
Rhesus
macaque |
Macaca
mulatta |
Least
Concern |
II |
Hare
|
Lepus
nigricollis |
Least
Concern |
IV |
Jungle
cat |
Felis
chaus |
Least
Concern |
II |
Smooth
coated otter |
Lutra
perspicillata |
Vulnerable |
II |
Mouse
deer |
Moschiola
indica |
Least
Concern |
I |
Civet
cat |
Viverricula
indica |
Least
Concern |
II |
Common
mongoose |
Herpestes
edwardsii |
Least
Concern |
II |
Porcupine
|
Hystrix
indica |
Least
Concern |
IV |
Indian
python |
Python
molurus |
Near
Threatened |
I |
Monitor
lizard |
Varanus
bengalensis |
- |
I |
Pea
fowl |
Pavo
cristatus |
Least
Concern |
I |
Red
jungle fowl |
Gallus
gallus |
Least
Concern |
IV |
Green
munia |
Estrilda
|
Vulnerable |
IV |