Forest Owlet
Athene blewitti A rare diurnal owl rediscovered in Melghat's dry teak forests after being thought extinct for over a century.
Experience Safari
A forest alive with diversity.
Where every layer of the forest is alive.
A remarkable diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies and flora exists across the forests and valleys of Melghat.
EXPLORE THE
LIVING LANDSCAPE
LIVING LANDSCAPE
THE LIVING LANDSCAPE
05 LIFE GROUPS
01 / MAMMALS
Life moves
through the forest.
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
Meet the inhabitants of the wild.
Sloth Bear
Melursus ursinus — Characteristic Satpura resident thriving in Melghat's rocky caverns, feeding on Mahua blossoms.
Experience Safari
Bengal Tiger
Panthera tigris — The magnificent flagship cat commanding Melghat's deep valleys and prime core habitats.
Experience Safari
Indian Leopard
Panthera pardus — Highly agile and adaptable feline prowling the rocky cliffs, nullahs, and plateau ridges of Melghat.
Experience Safari
Indian Gaur
Bos gaurus — The world's largest wild bovine grazing in powerful herds across Melghat's high grassy tablelands and meadows.
Experience Safari
Asiatic Wild Dog (Dhole)
Cuon alpinus — Endangered pack hunter whose whistle communication and coordinated tactics echo through Melghat's forests.
Experience SafariMammals of the Satpura Wilds
Melghat hosts over 80 mammal species representing herbivores, carnivores, primates, and arboreal specialists that maintain the balance of this fragile forest ecosystem.
Arboreal Jewel
State Animal
Indian Giant Squirrel
Maharashtra's state animal, this striking rust-and-maroon arboreal squirrel builds spherical twig nests high in the canopies of Melghat's deep forest ravines.
Prime Herbivore
Prey Base
Sambar Deer
The largest deer in the Indian subcontinent. Found in dense hill forests and near watercourses, Sambar is a vital prey species sustaining Melghat's tigers.
Social Grazer
Common
Chital (Spotted Deer)
Graceful spotted deer roaming in herds through open grasslands, riverbanks, and edge habitats, maintaining symbiotic alarm-call partnerships with langurs.
Canopy Sentinel
Primate
Hanuman Langur
Alert canopy sentinels whose sharp coughing alarm calls alert deer and forest herbivores whenever a tiger or leopard is on the prowl.
Nocturnal Wonder
Elusive
Honey Badger (Ratel)
One of the rarest and most fearless small carnivores in central India. Equipped with thick skin and powerful digging claws for night foraging in rocky hills.
Stealth Hunter
Vulnerable
Indian Leopard
Possessing unmatched climbing power and stealth, Melghat's leopards frequent rugged basalt cliffs, Semadoh ridges, and deep ravines.
Avian & Butterfly Paradise
Designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA), Melghat is a haven for ornithologists and naturalists, harboring over 260 bird species and 114 butterfly species.
Endemic / Rare
Forest Owlet
Athene blewittiThe crown jewel of Melghat's avian diversity. Highly localized, diurnal owlet with distinct white bands and yellow eyes.
Apex Raptor
Crested Serpent Eagle
Spilornis cheelaProminent raptor of the Satpura canopy, frequently spotted soaring above riverbeds and scanning forest floors for reptiles.
Nocturnal
Barn Owl
Tyto albaSilent nocturnal hunter nesting in old tree hollows, keeping forest floor rodent populations in natural ecological check.
114+ Species
Satpura Butterflies
LepidopteraFrom the Blue Mormon to the Common Crow, fluttering swarms bring vibrant color to Melghat's streams and flowering valleys.
Botanical Heritage
Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest
The Living Roots: Melghat Flora
Melghat's botanical wealth encompasses over 700 flowering plant species across 400 genera. The forest is predominantly Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous, dominated by teak, bamboo, and indigenous trees that have nourished the Korku and Gond tribes for generations.
Canopy Dominants: Teak (*Tectona grandis*) & Ain (*Terminalia tomentosa*)
Soaring up to 30 meters, teak forms over 50% of the tree canopy, providing crucial
shade and hollow nesting spaces.
Middle Understory: Katang Bamboo (*Dendrocalamus strictus*)
Dense bamboo brakes line the river valleys, acting as vital protective cover and
seasonal fodder for Gaur and elephants.
Sacred & Medicinal Flora: Mahua (*Madhuca longifolia*) & Ghost Tree
The Ghost Tree (*Sterculia urens*) with its shimmering white bark and the golden Mahua
flowers are central to tribal culture and wildlife sustenance.