Nagpur: The recently concluded ‘Wetland Nature Experience Program 2025’ held at the Pench Tiger Reserve offered a thrilling encounter with nature as participants were able to spot tigers, leopards, and over 1,000 animals and birds from various observation platforms.

Organized by the Forest Department, the program took place from May 12 to May 13, 2025, and attracted nature lovers from across the region. The registration window was open from April 30 to May 2, 2025, during which around 198 applications were received. Allocation of machans (elevated observation platforms) was done on a first-come, first-served basis through a specially created email ID.

The program began on May 12 at 3:00 PM and continued until 8:00 AM the next morning. Participants were transported by forest department vehicles to designated machans in buffer and core zones. Each participant was accompanied by a forest staff member. The department provided snacks, T-shirts, and caps to enhance the experience.

A total of 52 people participated, including 11 women. Wildlife sightings included tigers in both Nagalwadi and Paoni (Wildlife) forest ranges, a leopard each in Nagalwadi and Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, and large numbers of herbivores such as sambar, chital, wild boar, and nilgai. Other animals sighted included Indian bison, wild dogs, mongooses, and porcupines.

From the buffer zone machans of Pench Tiger Reserve, 451 animals and birds were observed, while 543 were sighted from those in the Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Sanctuary. In the core zone, the program was conducted exclusively by forest personnel using 63 machans, where more than 1,000 animals and birds were spotted.

Remarkably, 1,054 wildlife sightings were recorded from just 21 machans in the East Pench-Pipariya forest range, highlighting the rich biodiversity and conservation success in the area.

The Wetland Nature Experience Program continues to be a unique initiative that brings citizens closer to wildlife and raises awareness about ecosystem conservation.