Maharashtra's Pench Tiger Reserve becomes India's first Dark Sky Park, fifth in Asia

Photo used for representational purpose. File pic

Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra becomes India's first Dark Sky Park within a tiger reserve for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution. The Pench Tiger Reserve earmarks areas around the park that restricts lights for star-gazers to access pristine dark skies and makes the facility ideal not only for astronomy students but tourists too.

Dark Sky Place certification focuses on lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and monitoring the night sky. Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) became fifth such park in Asia. The certification was given by International Dark Sky Association, a global movement to promote astronomy.

Recognising the intrinsic value of the night sky as a natural, cultural, and historical resource, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) emphasises the importance of preserving natural darkness for the sake of nature conservation, ecological integrity in protected areas, and the well-being of communities in healthy cities, said Prabhu Nath Shukla, deputy director of Pench Tiger Reserve Maharashtra, news wire PTI reported.

The escalating global threat of light pollution poses a substantial risk to this invaluable resource, he mentioned in the statement released. The Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society Working Group, led by the International Astronomical Union, has recommended the establishment of 'Dark Sky Oases' by national and local governments, Shukla added.

Shukla informed that as part of the measures, more than 100 street and community lights in Wagholi, Sillari, Pipariya and Khapa villages of the Paoni UC Range buffer area have been replaced with lights facing the ground to mitigate light pollution.

The reserve has inaugurated a night observatory with the district planning committee (DPC) fund, the official said, adding that the area near Bagholi has been earmarked for stargazing, PTI reported.

Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra is situated in the northern part of eastern Vidarbha is spread in Ramtek, Parseoni and Saoner tehsil of Nagpur district. It is 25th tiger reserve of India. Pench tiger reserve is an excellent abode to almost all the major floral and faunal species including tiger, leopard, sloth bear, Indian gaur, wild dog, wolf etc found in central India.

(With Inputs from PTI)