Naturalist Diaries Pench – Season End 2025–26

Pench Tiger Reserve – Where Every Forest Tells a Different Story

Stretching across both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Pench Tiger Reserve is among Central India's most diverse landscapes. Rolling hills, teak forests, grasslands and riverine habitats combine to create one of India's richest wildlife experiences.

Interestingly, this season's biggest celebrity was not a tiger.

The Black Phantom of Mogarkassa

A melanistic—or black—leopard became the sensation of Pench during the 2025–26 season.

Although black leopards have appeared in Pench before, they have rarely occupied the same territory for long because of the reserve's high tiger density. This year, however, one individual remained in the Mogarkassa Buffer on the Maharashtra side long enough to transform the area's fortunes.

Previously overlooked by many visitors, Mogarkassa quickly became one of the reserve's most sought-after safari zones. While searching for the elusive black leopard, visitors also began discovering several resident leopards and a bold tigress that regularly frequented the area.

Even after the black leopard eventually disappeared, Mogarkassa retained its popularity, proving that one remarkable animal can change perceptions of an entire landscape.

Farewell to Langdi

March brought deeply emotional news with the passing of Langdi, the sister of the legendary Collarwali.

At approximately seventeen years of age, Langdi died of natural causes after an extraordinary life.

Born with a deformity in her forelimbs, she earned her name—meaning "the limping one." Yet despite her disability, she hunted successfully, raised multiple litters and proved that resilience often matters more than physical perfection in the wild.

She leaves behind a remarkable legacy.

Laxmi Carries the Bloodline Forward

Langdi's final litter included a daughter fathered by the famous male L-Mark, whose distinctive facial markings on both his cheeks resembled an inverted letter "L."

Remarkably, the young tigress inherited a similar marking on one of her cheeks, earning the name Laxmi.

Today, she has become one of the most frequently sighted tigresses in the Turia tourism zone and continues the remarkable lineage of both her parents.

A New King Takes Over

For years, L-Mark dominated almost the entire Turia landscape.

This season, however, a younger challenger known as X-Mark successfully defeated him and took control of much of his former kingdom.

Since that confrontation, L-Mark has not been seen again, leaving his fate unknown—a familiar yet sobering reminder of the uncertain lives of dominant male tigers.

Another established resident, Swastik, continues to hold territory around Route 2. However, his kingdom faces increasing pressure from several young dispersing males, possibly descendants of the famous Patdev tigress, whose 2021 litter consisted of five cubs.

The Legacy of Patdev

Like her legendary mother Collarwali, Patdev has proven to be an exceptional mother.

After successfully raising a litter of four cubs, she is now nurturing two younger cubs, continuing one of Pench's most productive family lines.

Her daughter Jugni has inherited those maternal instincts.

Living primarily around the Khawasa and Teliya buffer zones near the Nagpur–Jabalpur highway, Jugni previously raised five cubs and is now caring for another litter of four. Throughout the season, she and her cubs were frequently observed during buffer safaris and even while confidently crossing the highway between Khawasa and Turia—creating unforgettable moments for many fortunate visitors.

Buffer Forests Continue to Shine

Pench's buffer zones continued their remarkable rise as wildlife destinations.

The Jalfata tigress remained active around the Madhya Pradesh–Maharashtra border in the Teliya and Khursapar ranges.

Meanwhile, the Rukhad Buffer, which has steadily gained popularity over the past few years, produced consistent sightings of males PN144 and JK.

Maharashtra Delivers Outstanding Sightings

The Maharashtra side of Pench enjoyed another exceptional season.

In Khursapar, visitors regularly encountered Bindu with her young daughter, B2 and her now independent cubs, and the frequently sighted F-Mark tigress, whose territory spans both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Having been observed mating, she may introduce cubs during the coming monsoon.

Dominating this landscape is the massive 4-Mark, whose territory also extends seamlessly across the state boundary.

The Beauty of Sillari and Chorbahuli

The scenic Sillari Zone, one of the closest safari gates to Nagpur, remained among Pench's most rewarding destinations.

Resident tigress T67, also known as Bakhari, continued raising her cubs while also being observed mating with the dominant male T72. Such matings are sometimes interpreted as a strategy by females to reduce the risk of infanticide by dominant males, though the exact motivation remains uncertain.

Nearby, T131 and her three cubs, along with male T91, also provided regular sightings.

Further west, Chorbahuli, once a buffer zone and now a popular tourism area, continued its rise in popularity. The exceptionally bold male Rudra, along with T69 and her two cubs, Mahaveer male, and Shankar male, featured prominently in many memorable summer safaris.

A Paradise for Leopard Lovers

While Pench is celebrated for its tigers, its leopard sightings remain among the finest anywhere in India.

The reserve has consistently delivered excellent leopard encounters across both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, making it one of the country's premier destinations for observing these elusive big cats.

Combined with its numerous tourism gates, diverse safari routes and easy access from Nagpur, Pench continues to offer remarkable flexibility for visitors. Even last-minute safari bookings remain possible in some Maharashtra zones, making the reserve an increasingly attractive destination for wildlife enthusiasts.

Looking Ahead

As the core areas are getting closed for the monsoon season one wonders about what will the forest reveal when the gates reopen in October. Will there be cubs with laxmi, B2, F-mark and T67 or will there be new males challenging the thrones of the males ruling Pench. Only time will tell, who will survive the monsoon and who will thrive in it. 

Territories will be redrawn, cubs will head out to find their own place in the world and the monsoon will bring new life in the dried forest bringing food to the thousands of herbivores who make this forest their home.