Assam Buffaloes to Repopulate Chhattisgarh Sanctuaries

Chhattisgarh is embarking on a critical mission to revitalize its wild buffalo population, the state animal and the last remnant in Central India. The Forest Department plans to translocate wild buffaloes from Assam into protected enclosures across Pamed Wildlife Sanctuary, Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, and Indravati Tiger Reserve.

This ambitious project aims to naturally enhance the severely declining numbers of the Asiatic wild buffalo, a species listed as 'endangered' by the IUCN. Past conservation attempts, including cloning, have been abandoned. The current strategy has shown promise, with six buffaloes successfully introduced to Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary since 2020, bringing their population there to 11.

Officials are preparing a proposal for the central government, highlighting the urgency due to the species' endangered status and the continued decline. Concerns include poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. An approved five-point action plan, developed with expert input, focuses on scientific monitoring, habitat improvement, anti-poaching measures, and disease surveillance.