Context:
The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has been designated as India’s first Dark Sky Park and the fifth in Asia, protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- India’s First Dark Sky Park: Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR)
- Key Facts about PTR
India’s First Dark Sky Park: Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR)
Certification Overview:
- PTR in Maharashtra is designated as India’s first Dark Sky Park within a tiger reserve.
- Focuses on restricting light pollution for stargazing and preserving pristine dark skies.
Certification Criteria:
- Dark Sky Place certification involves lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and night sky monitoring.
Tourist Sanctuary:
- Designation allows PTR to be a sanctuary for tourists to experience celestial spectacles without artificial light pollution.
- Certified by the International Dark-Sky Association, a global movement promoting astronomy.
Asian Recognition:
- PTR becomes the fifth Dark Sky Park in Asia.
Key Facts about PTR:
- Location: Southern reaches of Satpura hills, spanning Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and Nagpur district in Maharashtra.
- Components: Includes Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and a buffer zone.
- Terrain: Undulating with small hills and steep slopes, supporting diverse vegetation.
- Flora: Rich in teak, saag, mahua, and various grasses and shrubs.
- Fauna: Home to a variety of wildlife, including tiger, leopard, wild dogs, Indian bison, and diverse bird species.
Cultural Reference:
- PTR’s landscape inspired Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.”
Conservation Significance:
- Preserving dark skies aligns with PTR’s commitment to ecological conservation.
- Enhances opportunities for astronomical observation and tourism.
-Source: The Hindu
