By Roopak Goswami
Guwahati: In a significant step towards restoring lost wildlife, Madhya Pradesh will reintroduce wild buffaloes into the Kanha Tiger Reserve, marking their return to the landscape after decades.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the programme on April 28 in Balaghat, where four animals—three females and one male will be released in the Supkhar and Topla ranges as part of the initial phase.
The buffaloes have been translocated from Kaziranga National Park, home to one of the world’s largest populations of the species. Officials say this is the beginning of a phased effort to build a sustainable population, with around 50 animals planned to be introduced over time.
The translocation is part of a broader inter-state conservation collaboration between Madhya Pradesh and Assam. The agreement also includes plans for relocating other species, signalling a growing trend of cooperative wildlife management across states.
Wild buffaloes had vanished from central India due to hunting pressures, habitat degradation and human interference. Their reintroduction is aimed at reviving ecological balance in Kanha’s grassland ecosystems, which experts have identified as suitable habitat for the species.
Officials say the programme is being carried out under close scientific supervision, with veterinarians and wildlife specialists monitoring the animals to ensure successful adaptation in their new environment.