Proudly supported by the Born Free Foundation

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, first published in 1894, is widely believed to have been inspired by the forests of central India, including the landscapes around what is now Pench National Park. While Kipling never named a single exact location, the dry tropical forests, rivers, wildlife and village life he described closely match the Pench and Satpuda region, an area rich in tigers, wolves, deer and forest communities. Now in the public domain, The Jungle Book can be read freely online and provides a powerful literary companion to Last Chance to Paint: Land of the Tiger. Used alongside our live expedition, the stories help children connect classic literature with real places, real wildlife and living cultures, enriching learning across art, literacy, geography and conservation, and deepening their understanding of what we risk losing if these environments are not protected.