Guwahati: The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has completed all formal procedures for the translocation of around 50 wild Asiatic water buffaloes to Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh in a phased manner as part of a conservation initiative.
According to Arun Vignesh, Divisional Forest Officer of the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division (Kaziranga), the translocation will begin with a smaller batch before gradually moving larger numbers of animals.
Vignesh said that although the initial plan was to relocate about 15 buffaloes in the first phase, authorities may begin by moving only five to six animals. This, he explained, will help assess the feasibility and logistics involved before scaling up the operation.
The process of capturing the wild buffaloes from Kaziranga is scheduled to begin on March 18 and 19 through tranquilisation.
Kohora Central Range Officer Bibhuti Ranjan Gogoi said a mock drill for the operation was conducted on Monday and will continue until tomorrow to ensure that the translocation process is carried out smoothly and safely.
Officials said the initiative forms part of a broader conservation strategy. Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh once had a population of wild buffaloes, and the state authorities are now keen to reintroduce the species into their forest landscape.
At the same time, conservationists believe that relocating a portion of Kaziranga’s buffalo population to other protected areas will strengthen long-term species conservation by expanding its geographical range.
A team from the Wild Buffalo Translocation Implementation Committee participated in the mock drill and will oversee the operation.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve currently hosts more than 1,000 Asiatic water buffaloes, making it one of the most significant habitats for the species.
Vignesh also noted that similar conservation efforts have been carried out in the past. Earlier, a number of wild buffaloes from Manas Tiger Reserve were successfully translocated to forest areas in Chhattisgarh as part of a species recovery programme.