| Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Map: | India |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | Nagpur district and Bhandara district, Maharashtra, India |
| Coordinates: | 20.8356°N 79.5111°W |
| Established: | 2013 |
| Governing Body: | State Forest Department Maharashtra Forest Department |
Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary is a nature reserve in the state of Maharashtra in India. It is bounded roughly by the Wainganga river and the Gose Khurd Dam in the Bhandara and Nagpur districts.[1]
According to a 2014 report, 11 tigers, six leopards are in the sanctuary, in addition to wild dogs, sloth bears, gaur, nilgais, deer and sambars.[2] [3]
Mammal species such as the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, gaur, blue bull, chital, sambar deer, barking deer, chinkara, monkey, wild boar, sloth bear and dhole live here.[4] The Wildlife Institute of India estimated the presence of three tigers in and around the sanctuary but the number has increased to five, with three new cubs sighted in March 2011. The field director of Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary said the 2011 births seemed to be the first litter of this tigress. "Better protection, good prey base and availability of water are three key factors why Bor is becoming a safe haven for tigers. Now the number of tigers has soared up steadily. The sanctuary now has three resident females rearing 10 cubs.,"[5] As per the 2015-16 tiger estimation report, there are five or six tigers in the Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary.
There are more than 90 species of birds belonging to 22 families of 12 different orders recorded in the sanctuary. This includes over 10 species of migratory birds and over seven species of endangered birds.
The reserve is home to over 19 species of reptiles belonging to nine families, of which four species are endangered, namely, Indian cobra, Russell's viper, Indian rock python, Indian rat snake, Chequered keelback and monitor lizard.[6]
Several water management programs have been created by the NGO Wildlife Trust of India.[7]