The Kanha Tiger Reserve will welcome the return of wild buffaloes on April 28, when Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav formally launches a reintroduction programme in Balaghat. As part of the first phase, four wild buffaloes — three females and one male — will be released into the reserve’s Supkhar and Topla ranges.
The animals have been translocated from Kaziranga National Park in Assam, which hosts one of the world’s largest wild buffalo populations. Officials said this release is the opening step in a long-term plan to gradually introduce about 50 animals to establish a self-sustaining population at Kanha.
The move forms part of a broader inter-state conservation partnership between Madhya Pradesh and Assam aimed at collaborative wildlife management. Authorities say the agreement could create a framework for future exchanges and relocations of other species as conservation needs dictate.
Wild buffaloes once ranged across central India but were extirpated from the region decades ago due to excessive hunting, habitat loss and human encroachment. Conservationists argue that reintroducing the species could help restore ecological balance, particularly in Kanha’s grassland habitats where the animals play a key role in vegetation dynamics.
Officials emphasised that the reintroduction will be conducted under strict scientific supervision. Teams of veterinarians and wildlife experts will closely monitor the animals’ health and behaviour to ensure successful acclimatisation and to manage any human–wildlife conflict risks during the population’s establishment.
Original Source: https://www.guwahatiplus.com/assam/wild-buffaloes-to-be-translocated-to-kanha-tiger-reserve-from-assams-kaziranga-after-decades
Category: Assam
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Publish Date: 2026-04-28 15:01:00
