Asian Wild Water-Buffalo (Bubalus arnee)

[Rishi]

(10-16-2018, 09:40 PM)Pckts Wrote: Also, from what I remember about Kanha, it doesn't have gigantic watering holes and I assume like their name suggests, these guys prefer lots of Water.  Kanha is also a lot more hilly, which I'm not sure is a preference for Water Buffalo. I'm sure I'm not presenting any new information to the people that run the show, it's just a bit curious to me. @Rishi what's your take on this?

Link: My map on habitations of Water Buffaloes in Indian sub-continent, with details on individual populations

Water buffalos that lived there & is the state animal of Chhattisgarh, are the "hardground" variety or Bubalus arnee arnee (RED) while the ones in Assam are swamp variety or Bubalus arnee fulvus (BLUE). However the ones living in Terai of Nepal are apparently hardground too, @Jimmy knows better than me.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

But presently their numbers are critically low in Central India.In the 1980s there were fewer than 100 in Madhya Pradesh and by 1992 this number dropped to 50. Current estimates put their number at around 200 (or lower) in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

They are only found in limited pockets, the Udanti-Sitanadi, Barnawapara (dozen each) & Indravati (few dozens) TRs of southern Chhattisgarh, are the last strongholds. With the region being gripped by militant insurgency for last few dacades (might take another to be completely sanitised) wildlife in the region was left to fend for themselves.
There's a Central India Wild Buffalo Recovery Project carrying ex-situ & in-situ breeding but the population is far too low to ensure genetic diversity! (Updates & photos on Udanti breeding)


But due to extreme remoteness of the area some may have survived, we don't really know where... or how many. In recent years some herds were identified in Gadchiroli district's forest of Maharashtra, migrators from Chhattisgarh. During tiger estimation they were sighted too & numbers seem to have increased.

As other populations of Central India are in shambles themselves, there is no other option but to source them from Assam. Not only Kanha, but Barnawapara is supposed to recieve buffloes from Manas as well. Otherwise i doubt the fact that they are technically different subspecies was overlooked.
The ones living in Nepals Kosi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary (430) being relocated to Chitwan National Park (15) should definitely be better candidates. If India gave Kazi rhinos to Nepal instead, recieving buffalos for MP, that would be best! Reply