Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra has earned the title of the first Dark Sky Park in India and fifth in Asia for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution, making the facility ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.
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 PTR Maharashtra.
The escalating global threat of light pollution poses a substantial risk to this invaluable resource, he stated in a release.