With prediction of early arrival of Southwest Monsoon in Vidarbha this year, the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) management has decided to shut the tourism zones of PTR, Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR) and Umred-Paoni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary (UPKWS) from June 15 to September 30, two weeks earlier than regular closure schedule. In a communication issued on May 19 to the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which handles official jungle safari bookings, Pench Field Director S Ramesh Kumar instructed technical officials to suspend safari bookings for all core areas during the closure period. Tourists who had already made advance safari bookings between June 15 and June 30 will receive refunds, as per the order.

 

Usually, core areas of tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries remain closed from July 1 to September 30 under the guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). However, Forest officials in the Pench appear to have opted for an earlier closure this year, likely due to the anticipated early rains and related logistical challenges. Officials added that, a separate announcement regarding tourism activities in the buffer zones will be issued later. The seasonal monsoon closure is a standard conservation practice followed across tiger reserves. Heavy rainfall often makes forest tracks slippery and inaccessible, creating safety concerns for visitors. The period is also considered important for wildlife breeding, and limiting tourist movement helps reduce disturbance to animals, while allowing damaged forest roads and habitats time to recover naturally.