Asian Wild Water-Buffalo (Bubalus arnee)

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Forest Deptt to introduce Assam’s wild buffalo in Kanha

Date: 16 Oct 2018 14:38:05

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Ankita Garg
Madhya Pradesh Forest Department gears up to re-introduce Hard Ground wild buffalo at Kanha Tiger Reserve area. Hard Ground wild buffalo has been almost extinct from the jungles of Madhya Pradesh.
To re-introduce Bison in several jungles of State, Forest Department has chalk out plan to translocate herd of Bison from Assam where they are available on large scale. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given its final nod for the project. 
Earlier, wild buffalo was available in large number in Kanha Tiger Reserve and nearby areas but gradually they become extinct from the area.

Forest officials said, while deciding translocation of Asiatic Lion in MP, Central Government has also asked to re-introduce wild buffalo in jungles of Madhya Pradesh as they are good for the food chain of animals in forest areas. Forest Department has now started working on the project.
“We will soon bring wild buffalo from Assam to introduce them in Kanha Tiger Reserve area. It is also part of the Asiatic Lion project and we are also in need of Bison for the food chain in jungles,” said Alok Kumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF). He further informed that earlier there was proposal to bring nine male wild buffalo and two female buffaloes from Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary of Chhattisgarh. He said after visiting the animals, officials found that one of the female buffalo is over age and other one is younger so both of them would not be part of breeding. Concern over the need of female for breeding plan, authority has decided to bring the buffaloes from Assam.

Alok Kumar said that a team of officials are being formed to prepare the route map of translocation. The team members will be deciding entire transportation of buffaloes as they are very sensitive animals. He said, in first phase three pair of buffaloes will be brought to Kanha Tiger Reserve from Assam. They will be enclosed in a quarantine (specially made for the buffaloes) for few months. As per study, Supkhar area of Kanha is suitable for the Bison.

Alok Kumar said there is slight difference between the buffalo of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Assam. Bison belong to Chhattisgarh (Hard Ground) prefer to stay in grass land while Assam Buffalo prefer to stay in muddy ground. They live in water and mud for maximum time.
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