The management of the <keyword id="20046265" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pench-Tiger-Reserve" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Pench Tiger Reserve" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Pench Tiger Reserve">Pench Tiger Reserve</keyword> (PTR) used <keyword id="20225310" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="raksha-bandhan" source="keywords">Raksha Bandhan</keyword> as an occasion to create awareness about the <keyword id="19986962" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="protection" source="keywords">protection</keyword> and <keyword id="19948448" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="conservation" source="keywords">conservation</keyword> of tigers, with <keyword id="19900675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women" source="keywords">women</keyword> sporting <keyword id="22837593" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tiger-masks" source="keywords">tiger masks</keyword> while tying <keyword id="22627149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rakhis" source="keywords">rakhis</keyword> to men in villages and small towns surrounding the reserve. In a post on X on Monday, the PTR said this is the third consecutive year it has celebrated Raksha Bandhan in 130 villages, small towns adjoining the reserve. <div type="twitter" handle="PenchMP" handlename="PenchMP" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1825430809563508993"></div>"For the third consecutive year, the Pench Tiger Reserve is celebrating Raksha Bandhan in a unique way as <keyword id="22837594" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tiger-protection-day" source="keywords">Tiger Protection Day</keyword>. Continuing the tradition, we are celebrating Tiger Protection Day in 130 villages and some small towns near the tiger reserve and in Seoni and Chhindwara district headquarters by tying rakhis to villagers and society wearing tiger masks," the post stated. The rakhi, in this instance, is a symbol for the protection of tigers and <keyword id="20112352" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wildlife" source="keywords">wildlife</keyword>, it said. "Just like a sister ties rakhi for her brother's long life and her safety, we all have promised to protect our forest - tigers and other wildlife," it stated. The PTR said this unique Raksha Bandhan was not just a festival but a resolution to protect the forest and wildlife. The PTR shared a video in which women sporting tiger masks tied rakhis to their brothers.

Women don tiger masks to tie rakhis to men in villages, towns surrounding MP's Pench Tiger Reserve

<ul><li>Pench alone has over 53 tigers living in the reserve and an additional 80 tigers (approximately) utilising the reserve.</li><li>The reserve was the muse behind Rudyard Kipling’s iconic character ‘Mowgli’ from The Jungle Book.</li><li>Somewhat of a legend, T15, also called <keyword id="4388723" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="collarwali">Collarwali</keyword> Baghin, is a 14-year-old tigress who has happily provided Pench eight litters - in total, she has had 29 cubs, out of which 25 have survived.</li></ul>A mere glimpse of the majestic big cat is the surreal experience most wildlife enthusiasts yearn for, and <keyword id="57596" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pench-Tiger-reserve">Pench Tiger Reserve</keyword> in <keyword id="6355554" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Madhya-Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</keyword> is undoubtedly an excellent place to start the pursuit. Boasting a healthy population of tigers, this 758 square kilometre park in the southern part of Madhya Pradesh was given the status of a national park in 1975 and was established as a tiger reserve in 1992. Named after the Pench River that cuts through the park, this national park consists of two parts -- the Priyadarshini National Park and <keyword id="10883492" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mowgli-Pench-Sanctuary">Mowgli Pench Sanctuary</keyword>, which covers an area of 299 square kilometres and a buffer area of 464 square kilometres. Around 257 square kilometres of this park lies in Maharashtra, which is also accessible from Madhya Pradesh. The reserve was the muse behind Rudyard Kipling’s iconic character ‘Mowgli’ from The Jungle Book. Supriya Sehgal, a Mumbai-based travel and children's book author and the co-founder of a digital marketing and production house, tells Business Insider, “I had the opportunity to spend a short but memorable time in Pench through the eyes of Pugdundee Safaris, while on a long Madhya Pradesh national parks loop. It is believed that Pench and the surrounding areas were the inspiration behind 'The Jungle Book' by Rudyard Kipling. While this piece of information alone was amply intriguing for me, naturally, spotting a tiger sprawled close to a watering hole trumped it. It was a female, eyes heavy with sleep under a leafy patch that curtailed the harsh hand of the sun, in touching distance of a natural pool — it was the perfect way to unwind — one, I would have wanted for myself, but there was more of the vast jungle to explore.” <div type="image" title="Pench-Jungle-Camp-Mottled-Wood-Owl" msid="81374528" hostid="261"></div>Madhya Pradesh is one of the few Indian states blessed with a substantial number of national parks including -- Kanha Tiger Reserve, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Panna Tiger Reserve, Pench Tiger Reserve, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve, Madhav National Park, Vanvihar National Park, Fossil National Park and Dinosaur Fossil National Park. At Pench, apart from a robust population of big cats, wildlife enthusiasts have much more to spot, including mammals like leopards, wolves, jackals, fox, striped hyenas, sloth bears, the Indian gaur, chital, sambar deer, nilgai, dholes (Indian wild dog), macaques, chinkara, barking deer, wild boars, and swamp deer. The reserve also hosts snakes like cobras, pythons and the Indian krait and a diverse population of avian beauties like the Indian pitta, pintail duck, red wattled lapwings, owls, vultures and blue kingfishers. <div type="image" title="Pench Tiger Reserve" msid="81374325" hostid="261"></div><keyword id="10883491" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="deepika-sinha">Deepika Sinha</keyword>, a marketing and communications professional from Mumbai, has visited the Pench National Park four times now, and each time she says she falls more in love with the place. She tells Business Insider, “I have been extremely lucky to have some of my best sightings at Pench from the regal tigress to wild dogs, boars, jackals and the ever-so-shy sloth bear, which I'm told is a very unique sighting in Pench.” <div type="image" title="Pench Tiger Reserve" msid="81374334" hostid="261"></div>A 2018 government tiger status <a href="http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Tiger-Status-Report-2018_For-Web_compressed_compressed.pdf">report</a> estimated that India has around 3000 tigers, and Pench alone has over 53 tigers living in the reserve and an additional 80 tigers (approximately) utilising the reserve. As far as wildlife destinations in India go, Pench is among travel blogger Revati Victor’s hot favourites. She says, “It's one of the easiest to access (a 2-hour drive from Nagpur airport) and is where I have seen the most tigers... This is truly Jungle Book land, where regardless of whether you're here as a tourist to capture the famous tigress Collarwali for your Instagram or as a traveller to enjoy a quiet picnic under the watchful gaze of a pair of brown wood owls far from the crowds -- Pench has something to offer you and you will come away utterly fascinated.” <div type="image" title="The legendary Collarwalli" msid="81374415" hostid="261"></div> Somewhat of a legend, T15, also called Collarwali Baghin, is a 14-year-old tigress who saunters around the park wearing a tracking collar. She has happily provided Pench eight litters -- one litter of four cubs as recently as 2019. In <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-pench-tiger-reserve-population-5875907/">total</a>, she has had 29 cubs, out of which 25 have survived. Two famous male arch-enemies who constantly battle over territory go by the name BMW (because of the B, M and W marking on his thigh) and Sula (referencing the wine brand because of the distinctive wine-glass-shaped marking on his body). The stories the guides and jeep drivers share during these safaris can be quite intriguing, so it's best to keep your eyes and ears peeled. Best time to visit: November to February is considered the best time to visit Pench since the temperature hovers around 10° to 28° celsius, making the safari quite pleasant. With temperatures between 28° to 45° celsius, March to June is often too hot to enjoy the tour, but some still brave the weather and make the trip. July to mid-October, the Pench National Park remains closed primarily because the monsoons are usually the breeding season. <div type="image" title="Pench-Tree-Lodge-Safari" msid="81374444" hostid="261"></div>Safari zones and timings: Pench National Park has seven zones – Turia, Karmajhiri, Jamtara, Rukhad, Wolf Sanctuary, Sillari, and Khursapar. The main entry points are Jamtara, Turia and Karmajhiri. Turia is the most popular because there are several water bodies in the area, thus increasing the chances of spotting wild animals out for a drink. The park timings vary depending on the season. The morning jeep safari starts from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and the evening safari starts from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM. In the summer months (March to June), the safari timing changes to 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM. There is also a government-approved night safari in the Wolf Sanctuary from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM; this is great for those who want to catch a glimpse of wolves as well as jackals, spotted deer, sambar deer, nilgai and various nocturnal birds. Places to stay: There are a number of good properties in the region. Sinha highly recommends <a href="https://www.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj/baghvan-pench-national-park/">Baghvan, A Taj Safari - Pench National Park</a>, for a perfect mix of the fancy and the rustic. The property has 12 cottages and each cottage consists of a room, indoor and outdoor bathroom and a machaan where, if you are brave enough, you can spend the night in. Another great option is the <a href="https://www.penchtreelodge.com/">Pench Tree Lodge</a>, a Pugdundee Safaris’ property that consists of six treehouses and six luxury cottages set amidst forty acres of wilderness. Kiplings Court is a slightly more affordable option in the region. This well-kept government-run establishment has two 6-bed dorms as well as private cottages. Plus, it has the added advantage of being only a kilometre away from the park's Turia gate. Victor suggests <a href="https://www.penchjunglecamp.com/">Pench Jungle Camp</a> where she stayed in a room modelled after a tent. She says, “It is the perfect distance from both the Khursapar gate and action-packed Turia gate.” SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ignore-low-cibil-score-for-street-vendor-loans-work-on-holidays-and-other-diktats-from-indian-government-to-banks-rushing-to-meet-march-target/articleshow/81223572.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Bankers may be working all 31 days of March with the government looking to double the loans doled out under the PM SVANidhi scheme</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/check-out-all-the-hiring-opportunities-in-2021-in-india/slidelist/81343839.cms">A whole host of jobs, from government to private to foreign companies in India, are opening up ⁠— here’s a look at some of those</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/these-are-the-worlds-top-food-delivery-companies-indias-zomato-and-swiggy-have-a-long-way-to-go-as-compared-to-their-global-counterparts-like-doordash-or-meituan/slidelist/81344728.cms">These are the world’s top food delivery companies – India’s Zomato and Swiggy have a long way to go as compared to their global counterparts like DoorDash or Meituan</a>

Apart from the big cat, the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh flaunts a variety of fabulous residents

<ul><li>Around 115 kilometres from the city of Visakhapatnam, <keyword id="566330" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Araku-Valley">Araku Valley</keyword> is ideal for those itching to get away from it all.</li><li>This rustic hill station is perched at about 1,200 metres above sea level in the Eastern Ghats.</li><li>The Borra Caves, also called Borra Guhalu, is considered one of India's largest and deepest caves in India.</li></ul>Around 115 kilometres from the city of Visakhapatnam, the truly tranquil hill station of Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh is ideal for those itching to get away from it all. Frequented by people in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) who are, perhaps, sick of staring at the sea and need to get away from the sweltering heat, the picturesque hill station has also become increasingly popular because of its coffee plantations. In fact, the Britishers realised the potential of the region's microclimate in the 1900s and set up coffee plantations here. <div type="image" title="Araku Valley" msid="81363695" hostid="261"></div> This rustic hill station is perched at about 1,200 metres above sea level in the Eastern Ghats. So lovely is the terrain, that it features in a bunch of popular Telugu movies. Like most hill stations, Araku has a plethora of 'touristy' hotspots like the Borra caves, Chaparai cascade waterfalls, Tribal Museum, Katika waterfalls, Ananthagiri Hills, Araku Waterfalls, Tyda Nature Camp, and Tatipudi Reservoir. However, brand consultant, Shilpa Colluru, who stayed at Sunkarametta Village, recommends this place because "it is quiet, peaceful and lovely if you want to spend a few days doing nothing except stare at some gorgeous views, take long walks and generally unwind.” <div type="image" title="Araku Valley" msid="81363726" hostid="261"></div> The Borra Caves, also called Borra Guhalu, is considered one of India's largest and deepest caves in India. It features a variety of cave formations - stalactites and stalagmites ranging in size and shape. Tribals of the area share a legend that a cow apparently fell through the roof of one of the caves and miraculously survived, and the cowherd who found his cow noticed a ‘Shiva Lingam’ shaped stone in the cave and surmised it was Lord Shiva who saved the cow and thus to this date there is a tiny temple outside the cave that is frequented by locals and tourists alike. While the area is teeming with waterfalls, it is also, unfortunately, overflowing with tourists, and discerning travellers may want to skip the experience. But if large crowds are not a deterrent, you can scope out: Chaparai cascade waterfalls, which are not traditional waterfalls, but water flowing over massive boulders that make for a unique experience. Three kilometres from Ananthagiri village, Ananthagiri waterfalls, also known as Tadimada waterfalls, is a bit of a trek to get to, and therefore you may find it less crowded. Araku waterfalls, also called Ranajilleda waterfalls, is a 60-feet high waterfall requiring a small amount of hard work (15-minute trek) to get there. Around seven kilometres from the Borra Caves, the 100-feet-high Katika waterfalls is yet another tourist hotspot accessible by jeep, and people have permission to cook there. Tyda, a small village 70 kilometres from Vizag, is popular because of an ecotourism resort run by AP Tourism and the forest department called Jungle Bells Camp or Tyda Nature Camp. The camp is strategically located amidst rich flora and fauna and offers several adventure activities, including trekking, hiking, and bird watching, making it a great place to visit with family. <div type="image" title="Araku Valley" msid="81363774" hostid="261"></div> Getting there: Araku Valley is about a 3-hour drive from Visakhapatnam, which is where the nearest airport is located. Alternatively, one can also opt for the 'glass train' fitted with massive windows for travellers to soak in the gorgeous views. Upon arrival, travellers can hire a rickshaw to take you to your place of stay. Places to stay: While the options are pretty limited, very basic and mostly government-run establishments, they are all clean and decently maintained, and the food is usually good — a wholesome South Indian spread. Colluru recommends trying out the special delicacies made by the tribals living in the area like the Bamboo Chicken. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/regulating-digital-news-is-important-but-freedom-of-press-is-precious/articleshow/81341289.cms">OPINION: Regulating digital news is important but freedom of press is precious</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heranba-industries-ipo-makes-a-bumper-debut-on-stock-exchanges/articleshow/81342578.cms?upcaceh=2">Heranba Industries makes a bumper debut on stock exchanges — shares soar 44% over the issue price band</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ignore-low-cibil-score-for-street-vendor-loans-work-on-holidays-and-other-diktats-from-indian-government-to-banks-rushing-to-meet-march-target/articleshow/81223572.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Bankers may be working all 31 days of March with the government looking to double the loans doled out under the PM SVANidhi scheme</a>

Araku Valley, an idyllic weekend getaway spot in the north-eastern corner of Andhra Pradesh

Tiger state <keyword id="6355554" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="madhya-pradesh" source="Orion">Madhya Pradesh</keyword> has lost 14 <keyword id="43977" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tigers" source="Orion">tigers</keyword> in the last four months in different wildlife habitats of the state, including four between April 1 to 4. Of the total tigers reported dead, 10 had lost their lives within the earmarked area of tiger reserves, while four were reported dead outside the area. According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) report, three tigers were reported dead in Pench Tiger Reserve, two each in Bandhavgarh, Sanjay Tiger Reserve, Kanha Tiger Reserve and one in <keyword id="874943" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="satpura-tiger-reserve" source="Orion">Satpura Tiger Reserve</keyword>. The remaining four big cats were reported dead outside the wildlife habitat areas. The NTCA report also suggests that of the 14 big cats lost between January 1 and April 4, six were female and three male, while the identity of five remained unknown. Of the three tigers who died in the last four days, two were found dead in Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) in Narmadapuram (<keyword id="622281" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="hoshangabad" source="Orion">Hoshangabad</keyword>) district and the third in Balaghat. A senior officer in STR said the carcass of a female cub, aged around 5-6 months, was spotted by a forest patrol in <keyword id="830011" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="mogra" source="Orion">Mogra</keyword> area of <keyword id="488513" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="pachmarhi" source="Orion">Pachmarhi</keyword> range on Saturday. The officer said that there were multiple injuries on her body, suggesting a possible attack by an adult tiger. Another tiger aged around eight years was found severely injured and gasping for breath. Wildlife vets tranquilised and took it for treatment, but it could not survive. "The tiger died in the cage while being taken for treatment. "Both the tigers died due to territorial fights with another tiger," the officer said. The death count of tigers in Madhya Pradesh remained higher than other states despite the state government spending a handsome amount of money every year for conservation, security and monitoring. As per the state government report, around Rs 28.30 lakh was spent during 2018-19, while this amount was Rs 22.49 lakh in 2019-20. Similarly, the state government spent Rs 26.42 lakh and Rs 12.88 lakh in the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively. The NTCA's data shows that overall, 39 tigers were reported dead across the country in the last four months. Madhya Pradesh, like in the previous years, led with 14 tiger deaths, followed by Maharashtra with 10, while Karnataka was at third place with 6 tiger deaths. Ajay Dubey, a wildlife activist, said that due to the absence of accountability of the field officers, MP has been reporting the maximum number of deaths of tigers. He claimed that during the summer, the number of deaths of tigers or other wild animals witnessed a sharp increase due to various reasons. "Due to extreme weather during the summer, patrolling by forest officers decreases. As during autumn, visibility in the forest increases many times more than other seasons due to the fall of leaves. Another reason is that during the summer wild animals would be found near water ponds which provides ample opportunity for poachers to target animals," Dube added. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/former-student-and-indigo-co-founder-rakesh-gangwal-gifts-100-crore-to-iit-kanpur/articleshow/90660595.cms">Former student and Indigo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal gifts ₹100 crore to IIT-Kanpur</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/nasa-telescope-uses-moonlight-to-improve-satellite-accuracy/articleshow/90657804.cms">NASA telescope uses moonlight to improve satellite accuracy</a>

39 tigers reported dead in last four months across India, says report

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/26624290.cms" /> When the <keyword id="6662033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Big-Cats">big cats</keyword> world over are fast losing their <keyword id="1342788" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="natural-habitat">natural habitat</keyword>, it is heartening to see one Indian state setting up a new home for this endangered species. <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> will soon be home to the state’s fifth <keyword id="51012" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="tiger-reserve">tiger reserve</keyword> if it gets approval from the <keyword id="49041" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Tiger-Conservation-Authority">National Tiger Conservation Authority</keyword>, a senior official said in Mumbai. There are already four tiger reserves in the state including <keyword id="6416868" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Melghat">Melghat</keyword>, <keyword id="6364430" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tadoba">Tadoba</keyword>, <keyword id="378980" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pench">Pench</keyword> and <keyword id="305828" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sahyadri">Sahyadri</keyword>. 
 The sanctuary identified for the new tiger project is located at <keyword id="1957392" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nagzira-Navegaon">Nagzira-Navegaon</keyword> – lying between Bhandara and Gondia districts. Earlier, <keyword id="1957393" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nagzira-sanctuary">Nagzira sanctuary</keyword> spanned some 150 sq km while the <keyword id="131360" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navegaon-National-Park">Navegaon National Park</keyword> covered 130 sq km. With the upcoming tiger habitat in view, the entire area has been increased to 700 sq km, principal secretary (forests) Praveen Pardeshi told the media. 
 Some big cats housed in Tadoba often wander outside the core area and these will be moved to the <keyword id="612932" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nagzira-Navegaon-tiger-reserve">Nagzira-Navegaon tiger reserve</keyword>. There are more than 100 tigers in Tadoba while Nagzira alone shelters some 20 tigers. 
 As per the latest data, the average number of tigers in Maharashtra grew from 103 in 2006 to 168 in 2011. Other states like Kerala, <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, Karnataka, <keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword> and the Western Ghats region also saw a rise in number, according to new surveys conducted via camera traps. 
 India is home to the world’s largest population of wild tigers and the number stood at 1,706 according to the last census in 2011 (ranging between a minimum of 1,571 and a maximum of 1,875 across 17 Indian states). In a bid to boost the <keyword id="110107" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="tiger-population">tiger population</keyword>, the central government gave in-principle approval for the creation of five <keyword id="1186294" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="new-tiger-reserves">new tiger reserves</keyword> in 2012. These include <keyword id="42865" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pilibhit">Pilibhit</keyword> (<keyword id="6357713" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>), <keyword id="1089395" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ratapani">Ratapani</keyword> (<keyword id="6355554" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Madhya-Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</keyword>), <keyword id="191956" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sunabeda">Sunabeda</keyword> (<keyword id="6357961" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Odisha">Odisha</keyword>), <keyword id="1957401" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mukundara-Hills">Mukundara Hills</keyword> (<keyword id="6355588" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajasthan">Rajasthan</keyword>) and <keyword id="119091" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sathyamangalam">Sathyamangalam</keyword> (Tamil Nadu). The proposed Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve constitutes three wildlife sanctuaries including Darrah, Jawahar Sagar and Chambal. 
 India is also planning to set up an all-new tiger sanctuary inside the <keyword id="63330" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sundarbans">Sundarbans</keyword>, <keyword id="1957403" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Worlds-largest-mangrove-forest">world’s largest mangrove forest</keyword> which straddles the border of <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword> with <keyword id="6354759" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</keyword>. The Sundarbans, a <keyword id="6383012" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unesco-World-Heritage-Site">UNESCO World Heritage Site</keyword> spanning some 10,000 sq km, already houses a tiger reserve but a second one could be coming up to accommodate the increasing tiger population in that region. 
 
With input from agencies 
Image: Wikipedia

Soon, Big Cats Will Find A New Home At Nagzira-Navegaon In Maharashtra

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/26026236.cms" /> 
The Festival of Light had come and gone, and we certainly hope you enjoyed your Diwali with lights and bangs. But now that it’s over, many of us are already busy on the Web, trying to chalk out some never-before holiday plans. Before you finalise destinations and dates, here’s a look at the most mesmerising train journeys across an incredible India that will keep you spellbound even before you reach the vacation spot. 
 Last month, we brought our readers a list of most <keyword id="1943444" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Scenic-train-rides">scenic train rides</keyword> through the mountains. And this time around, we take you on a <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> through India’s heartland as the sweeping plains, emerald forests, golden deserts and hilly terrains chug past you at a relaxed pace. Whether you are travelling in 5-star cabins or a rickety carriage, nothing can beat the unique experience these rail rides offer to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the views and be a part of the untravelled India you have never seen before. 
 
Image: Wikipedia

Chugging Along: 9 Picturesque
Train Rides Into The Heartland Of India

New Delhi, May 7 () A plea has been moved in the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Centre to involve veterinarians also in the fight to prevent spread of COVID-19 between humans and animals, claiming that a tiger in the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh had allegedly died due to coronavirus.The forest officials and the government had denied that the tiger was infected with COVID-19 and had claimed that it died as it had a football sized hairball inside it and as a result could not eat.The petition, by animal rights activist Sangeeta Dogra, has claimed that the forest officials have "incorrectly diagnosed" the cause of death of the tiger as it was based on "speculation" and not on examination by a virologist or an epidemiologist.The plea has contended that since the feline died near a water body which is frequented by other animals in the reserve, the forest officials ought to have tested it for presence of any virus as recently in Chennai viral RNA samples were allegedly found in sewage samples collected from some water treatment plants.The petition has further contended that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had on April 23 released a report stating that COVID-19 virus has been detected in sewage systems.WHO has also cautioned that since viral particles have been found in sewage, as a precautionary measure wastewater should be well managed, the petition has claimed. HMP SKV RKS RKSRKS

Involve veterinarians in fight against COVID-19: PIL in HC

New Delhi, May 8 () The Delhi High Court Friday declined to entertain a plea seeking directions to the Centre to involve veterinarians to help prevent spread of coronavirus between humans and animals, claiming that a tiger in the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh had allegedly died due to the virus.A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar said the governments were taking all necessary steps and dismissed the plea by animal rights activist Sangeeta Dogra who claimed that forest officials "incorrectly diagnosed" the cause of tiger's death as it was based on "speculation" and not on examination by a virologist or an epidemiologist. The forest officials and the government had denied that the tiger was infected with COVID-19 or coronavirus and had claimed that it died as it had a football sized hairball inside it and as a result could not eat.The detailed order of the court in the matter is awaited.The plea also contended that since the feline died near a water body which is frequented by other animals in the reserve, the forest officials ought to have tested it for presence of any virus as recently in Chennai viral RNA samples were allegedly found in sewage samples collected from some water treatment plants.The petition had further contended that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had on April 23 released a report stating that COVID-19 virus has been detected in sewage systems.WHO has also cautioned that since viral particles have been found in sewage, as a precautionary measure waste water should be well managed, the petition had claimed. HMP SKV SA

HC declines to entertain PIL to involve veterinarians in fight against COVID-19

What’s the most on-trend travel destination going to be in 2020? It’s Bhutan, according to Lonely Planet, which has put the tiny Asian nation at the top of its Best in Travel 2020 book, an annual publication of its top 10 countries, cities, regions and best-value destinations for the year ahead. The inclusion of <a href="https://www.scmp.com/topics/bhutan" class="link-text">Bhutan</a> is all about sustainability.Often described as the world’s last Shangri-La, the Himalayan kingdom is aiming to become the world’s first 100 per cent organic nation next year, banning the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in all farms. It is already the only carbon-negative country, removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it contributes. “Bhutan really taps into one of the themes of this year’s Best in Travel, which is the growing awareness in sustainability and in looking after the things that make our world so beautiful,” says Tom Hall, vice-president of experience at Lonely Planet. “Bhutan is playing a leading role in that. There are many other reasons to visit Bhutan: incredible monasteries, fantastic festivals and classic Himalayan trekking. “It’s got a lot of things that travellers are interested in at the moment,” says Hall. It is not a cheap place to visit, though; the book points out its strict “high-value, low-impact” tourism policy that issues seven- or 14-day entry permits to foreigners, which are only valid for Thimphu, the capital, and the town of Paro. Most of the country is otherwise restricted. “[The country] has a per-day charge [for tourists], but it’s not bad value if you consider what experiences are on offer there,” says Hall. The daily fee – US$200 or US$250 for most travellers, depending on the time of year you visit – means, at least, it will not be getting much more crowded after its recognition by Lonely Planet. The Central Asia Silk Road – covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and <keyword id="169344" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tajikistan">Tajikistan</keyword> – takes top spot in the top 10 regions list ahead of Italy’s Le Marche, Tohoku in northeast Japan and China’s Guizhou Province. “Central Asia is one of those bucket-list destinations,” says Hall. “Places like Tashkent and Samarkand are remote, but colourful, vibrant and very Instagram-friendly – images are such an important way of how people are consuming travel and travel content, and awareness of this region has grown as a result.” Japan’s Tohoku region, still recovering from the 2011 earthquake and, much more recently, <a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3033850/Areas%20hit%20by%20Typhoon%20Hagibis%20brace%20for%20more%20floods%20as%20heavy%20rain%20falls%20in%20Japan" class="link-text">Typhoon Hagibis</a> , makes the list as “it’s a much less visited part of Japan, but it’s easily accessible and you can explore saké breweries, mountain temples and onsen,” says Halluizhou Province also drew praise from Lonely Planet as a must-visit region. “The centre of its capital, <a href="https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2148468/shenzhen-singapore-guiyang-who-else-can-hong-kong-fall" class="link-text">Guiyang</a>, has a lot of character, with artisan business, quiet alleyways, cafes and craft bars,” says Hall. “Out in the countryside there’s a feeling of ‘old China’, but it’s all connected by high speed rail so it’s easier to get to than ever.” Asian destinations featured in other categories, too. The intimate city of Kochi in Kerala, South India, placed seventh in the top 10 cities list, while the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh – home to the erotic sculptures at the Khajuraho group of Hindu and Jain temples, and stunning wildlife in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Pench National Park – placed third in top 10 list for best value destinations. However, topping that list is <keyword id="8692" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indonesia">Indonesia</keyword>’s East Nusa Tenggara; specifically, the area east of the famous Komodo National Park that was recently threatened with closure to visitors. “If you move east of Bali and Lombok you leave the crowds behind,” says Hall, singling out diving on the Alor Archipelago and the many pristine beaches as highlights. “It’s a place for independent travel and it’s like Indonesia was 15 years ago, but it’s [also] changing very quickly.” Every year, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel lists start with nominations from its community of editors, researchers, locals and influencers, which are ranked by a panel of judges to create a list containing unique, compelling and topical reasons to visit various destinations in the year ahead. England came second on the top 10 countries list, with North Macedonia in third. “England represents better value now than it has for a while because of the drop in its currency,” says Hall. “It’s worth keeping an eye on. Anyone coming to England will find that it’s an extremely welcoming place for visitors – as it always has been.” However, the main reason for its inclusion is the opening in 2020 of the England Coast Path, which will be the longest managed and waymarked coastal path in the world. “It’s a long walk – about 3,000 miles [4,830km] – but it’s a really interesting way to explore England,” says Hall. Perhaps the bigger surprise is the inclusion of North Macedonia, which was previously known as Macedonia but changed its name in February after a dispute with Greece. “It’s less of a surprise to anyone who’s been there,” says Hall. “If you go outside June and August, you can have remote villages all to yourself, which is hard to do in Europe.” <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1.42857rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.35714rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;">Lonely Planet’s best travel destinations for 2020</h3>Top 10 Countries 1. Bhutan 2. England 3. North Macedonia 4. Aruba 5. Eswatini 6. Costa Rica 7. The Netherlands 8. Liberia 9. Morocco 10. Uruguay Top 10 Regions 1. Central Asian Silk Road 2. Le Marche, Italy 3. Tohoku, Japan 4. Maine, USA 5. Lord Howe Island, Australia 6. Guizhou Province, China 7. Cadiz Province, Spain 8. Northeast Argentina 9. Kvarner Gulf, Croatia 10. Brazilian Amazon Top 10 Cities 1. Salzburg, Austria 2. Washington, DC, USA 3. Cairo, Egypt 4. Galway, Ireland 5. Bonn, Germany 6. La Paz, Bolivia 7. Kochi, India 8. Vancouver, <keyword id="6356687" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="canada">Canada</keyword> 9. <keyword id="6354539" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dubai">Dubai</keyword>, UAE 10. Denver, USA Top 10 Best Value 1. East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia 2. Budapest, Hungary 3. Madhya Pradesh, India 4. Buffalo, USA 5. Azerbaijan 6. Serbia 7. Tunisia 8. Cape Winelands, South Africa 9. Athens, Greece 10. <keyword id="138493" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zanzibar">Zanzibar</keyword>, Tanzania

You Searched For "Pench Tiger Reserve" and got 9 results

Women don tiger masks to tie rakhis to men in villages, towns surrounding MP's Pench Tiger Reserve

PTI

Apart from the big cat, the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh flaunts a variety of fabulous residents

Kavita Majumdar

Araku Valley, an idyllic weekend getaway spot in the north-eastern corner of Andhra Pradesh

Kavita Majumdar

39 tigers reported dead in last four months across India, says report

IANS

Soon, Big Cats Will Find A New Home At Nagzira-Navegaon In Maharashtra

Sanghamitra Mandal

Chugging Along: 9 Picturesque Train Rides Into The Heartland Of India

Sanghamitra Mandal

Involve veterinarians in fight against COVID-19: PIL in HC

PTI

HC declines to entertain PIL to involve veterinarians in fight against COVID-19

PTI

Why Bhutan, ‘world’s last Shangri-La’, tops Lonely Planet’s 2020 best places to visit list

SCMP