BALAGHAT, Madhya Pradesh : Wild buffaloes have returned to Madhya Pradesh after nearly a century, with Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav calling the move a historic milestone for wildlife conservation in the state.
CM Mohan Yadav on Monday launched the wild buffalo restoration project at Supkhar in Balaghat district, where four wild buffaloes, three females and one male brought from Assam’s Kaziranga National Park were soft released into an enclosure in Kanha Tiger Reserve.
He said the reintroduction of the species would strengthen biodiversity, improve grassland ecosystems and increase eco-tourism opportunities, creating jobs for local communities.
“After almost 100 years, wild buffaloes are returning to Madhya Pradesh. This is a major step for wildlife conservation and ecological balance,” he said.
The chief minister added that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, the state government is working to bring back extinct and endangered wildlife species to Madhya Pradesh.
He said the transfer of wild buffaloes had also created a stronger conservation partnership between Assam and Madhya Pradesh. Discussions on the rehabilitation of wild buffaloes and rhinos had earlier taken place with Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Officials said the first phase of the project was carried out between March 19 and April 10, when seven juvenile buffaloes were selected from Kaziranga’s central and eastern ranges.
On April 25, four buffaloes travelled nearly 2,000 kilometres from Assam to Kanha under the supervision of senior forest officials and veterinarians.
Experts from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, identified Kanha as the most suitable site due to its grasslands, water sources and low human disturbance.
