Kanha National Park
🇮🇳 India
🦌 Barasingha on the Kanha MeadowsKanha National Park sits in the central uplands of India, protecting a dense tropical rainforest of sal and bamboo trees. Interlaced with grassy meadows and seasonal streams, this protected terrain offers a distinct terrain of closed canopy forest and open feeding grounds.
22.275° N 80.663° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Tiger
Panthera tigris
★ 
Barasingha
Rucervus duvaucelii
★ 
Axis Deer
Axis axis
★ 
Northern Plains Gray Langur
Semnopithecus entellus
📊 Most Spotted
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Rufous Treepie
Dendrocitta vagabunda
Black-hooded Oriole
Oriolus xanthornus
Black Drongo
Dicrurus macrocercus
Asian Jackal
Canis aureus
Brown-headed Barbet
Psilopogon zeylanicus
Gayal
Bos frontalis
Sambar
Rusa unicolor
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus paradiseus
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Copsychus saularis
Jungle Babbler
Turdoides striata
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Tiger
Panthera tigris
★ Barasingha
Rucervus duvaucelii
★ Axis Deer
Axis axis
★ Northern Plains Gray Langur
Semnopithecus entellus
📊 Most Spotted
Asian Jackal
Canis aureus
Gayal
Bos frontalis
Sambar
Rusa unicolor
Indian Muntjac
Muntiacus muntjak
Blackbuck
Antilope cervicapra
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Dhole
Cuon alpinus
Sloth Bear
Melursus ursinus
Ruddy Mongoose
Herpestes smithii
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Rhesus Macaque
Macaca mulatta
Indian Giant Flying Squirrel
Petaurista philippensis
📊 Most Spotted
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Rufous Treepie
Dendrocitta vagabunda
Black-hooded Oriole
Oriolus xanthornus
Black Drongo
Dicrurus macrocercus
Brown-headed Barbet
Psilopogon zeylanicus
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus paradiseus
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Copsychus saularis
Jungle Babbler
Turdoides striata
Common Tailorbird
Orthotomus sutorius
Coppersmith Barbet
Psilopogon haemacephalus
Jungle Owlet
Glaucidium radiatum
📊 Most Spotted
Indian Flap-shelled Turtle
Lissemys punctata
Reddish Peninsular Cat Snake
Boiga forsteni
Indian Python
Python molurus
Indian Wolf Snake
Lycodon aulicus
Common Bamboo Viper
Craspedocephalus gramineus
Oriental Garden Lizard
Calotes versicolor
Chequered Keelback
Fowlea piscator
Buff Striped Keelback
Amphiesma stolatum
Loos Snake
Oligodon taeniolatus
Dhaman
Ptyas mucosa
Keeled Indian Mabuya
Eutropis carinata
Common Bronzeback Tree Snake
Dendrelaphis tristis
Recent sightings in Kanha National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Barasingha rutting season
Male Barasinghas engage in dramatic rutting displays, locking antlers and vocalizing to establish dominance. This is a critical period for their conservation breeding program.
2Tiger breeding and cub sightings
Spring months coincide with peak tiger activity, including mating and territorial marking. Cubs are often spotted near water sources or dense cover.
3Monsoon bird migration
Post-monsoon arrival of migratory birds, including raptors and waterfowl, transforms the park’s avifauna. Wetlands and grasslands become vibrant with activity.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Barasingha rutting season
- 2Tiger breeding and cub sightings
- 3Monsoon bird migration
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
This time was no different…but we still managed to enjoy the company of many from the Deer family – Barking Deer, Barasingha, and Spotted Deer and spent some time with them as they played and went on their hind legs for the fruit from the tree.
Right at the beginning of the first exit, a tiger is spotted - the usual pack of off-road vehicles races to the reported spot, we are right in the middle of it.
The excitement in our group was palpable; we were all eager to catch a glimpse of the park’s most iconic resident — TIGER.
We saw the Barasingha, one of the only places in India one sees this family of deer.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Kanha National Park?
The most likely sightings are Pearl-necked Dove (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Axis Deer (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Tiger (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Northern Plains Gray Langur (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Barasingha (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers) — among 757 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Kanha National Park for wildlife?
April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Tiger in Kanha National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Tiger sighting in Kanha National Park, based on 81 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Barasingha in Kanha National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Barasingha sighting in Kanha National Park, based on 88 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Axis Deer in Kanha National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Axis Deer sighting in Kanha National Park, based on 93 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Northern Plains Gray Langur in Kanha National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Plains Gray Langur sighting in Kanha National Park, based on 81 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
Very goodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
