Asian Wild Water-Buffalo (Bubalus arnee)

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After 100 years, wild buffaloes may roam Madhya Pradesh again With relocation of lions and cheetahs to Madhya Pradesh still a distant dream, the forest department is shifting its focus to reintroducing endangered wild buffaloes. A feasibility study for captive breeding of this species has already been conducted in Mandla, where it was last seen around 100 years ago. The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) plans to begin by shifting a pair from neighbouring Chhattisgarh, where there are just 14 wild buffaloes left. There might be a few more deep inside the Maoist headquarters of Abujmarh where forest officials have no access. According to WTI, the wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee) that was once found in abundance across northeast India extending to northern and central India, is now critically threatened. A WTI survey estimates that no more than 50 individuals, in three subpopulations, in Indravati National Park, Pamed and Udanti Wildlife Sanctuaries in Chhattisgarh are still in the wild. There is none in MP, either wild or captive. “The estimated population of the wild buffalo in the northeast is roughly 3,000-4,000 — almost 92% of the world population,” WTI says. Asked about historical distribution of wild buffaloes in MP, J S Chouhan told TOI that full herds once roamed all over the Gondwana region. On reintroduction, he said, “Yes, it could be reintroduced in eastern Kanha, perhaps even in Satpura. Founding stock can be partially from Chhattisgarh.” 8/11/2019 After 100 years, wild buffaloes may roam Madhya Pradesh again - Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city...630481.cms 2/2 Asked if there is any difference in central Indian and northeastern wild buffaloes, Chouhan said, “Not much, but for certain features such as the horn span and pattern, and hoof adaptation”. In Chhattisgarh, the WTI project team is trying to use satellite collars on three free-ranging wild buffaloes to ensure proper monitoring. On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh government is expecting legal intervention to get Asiatic lions from Gujarat. In February this year, chief minister Kamal Nath had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on translocation of lions from Gujarat to the state against the backdrop of deaths of several lions there. “Kuno was developed as a second home for lions,” the CM wrote, requesting PM to issue orders to the Union ministry of environment and forest and the Gujarat government for smooth translocation. Nothing changed. In July, MP forest minister Umang Singhar raised the issue in assembly during a debate on budgetary demands for the department. “When Gujarat can get Narmada waters, when they can get greenery (due to Narmada waters), why can’t MP get lions? It’s one country and it’s a union of states,” he said. Requesting BJP MLAs to take up the matter with the Narendra Modi government, Singhar reminded that many contempt petitions have been filed in the matter. The cheetah relocation project has also been pending for long. Recently, the Supreme Court heard National Tiger Conservation Authority’s proposal to experimentally introduce African cheetahs in Indian jungles. Of the proposed three sites, two are in MP. NTCA said it carried out extensive survey and research to locate ideal habitats for cheetah in India and zeroed in on three — Kuno and Nauradehi wildlife sanctuaries in MP and Shahgarh in Rajasthan. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/after-100-years-wild-buffaloes-may-roam-madhya-pradesh-again/articleshow/70630481.cms Reply