World · India Bureau
Madhya Pradesh launches wild buffalo reintroduction at Kanha Tiger Reserve
Madhya Pradesh has released eight wild buffalo into Kanha Tiger Reserve in a landmark reintroduction effort after nearly a century of absence. The state government aims to establish a population of 50 buffalo within three years.
LSN India ·
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released eight wild buffalo into a 17-hectare enclosure at Kanha Tiger Reserve, marking a significant conservation milestone for the central Indian protected area. The reintroduction initiative represents the first attempt to restore the species to the region in approximately 100 years.
The buffalo, native to the Indian subcontinent, had vanished from Kanha Tiger Reserve over the past century due to habitat loss and hunting pressures. Wildlife officials have identified the reserve's grassland ecosystem as suitable for supporting a sustainable buffalo population.
State authorities have established an ambitious three-year target to expand the reintroduced population to 50 individuals. The initial phase involves close monitoring of the animals within the containment area to assess their adaptation to the reserve's environment and ensure their long-term survival.
The reintroduction forms part of broader wildlife restoration efforts at Kanha Tiger Reserve, one of India's premier tiger conservation areas. Experts view the project as a crucial step toward restoring the ecological balance of the reserve's grassland habitats, which have been significantly altered by the absence of large herbivores.