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Flora and Fauna - Kanha Tiger Reserve
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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 Formosa

Vulnerable

IV