Wild Buffaloes Return to MP After a Century, State Targets 50 in Three Years

Nearly a century after wild buffaloes disappeared from Madhya Pradesh’s forests, the state has taken a major step towards restoring the species, with eight animals released into a larger enclosure at Kanha Tiger Reserve on Sunday as part of an ambitious wildlife conservation programme.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released the six female and two male wild buffaloes into a 17-hectare enclosure in the reserve, marking a new phase in efforts to re-establish the species in its former habitat. The animals had earlier been kept in a one-hectare enclosure in the Supkhar range, where they completed their quarantine period and gradually adapted to the local climate and environment.

The buffaloes were brought from Assam’s Kaziranga National Park in two phases, on April 28 and May 9. Their transportation covered approximately 2,200 km, with assistance from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Yadav said.

The next stage will focus on helping the animals settle into their natural habitat after the monsoon. The state has set a target of reintroducing 50 wild buffaloes over the next three years, turning the initial release into a longer-term effort to rebuild the species’ presence in the region.

The Supkhar area was selected after the Forest Department found evidence that wild buffaloes had historically inhabited the region. Their return is expected to strengthen biodiversity and support the restoration of the forest ecosystem. However, the long-term success of the initiative will depend on the animals’ adaptation, habitat protection and the ability to sustain a viable population.

The initiative is part of Madhya Pradesh’s broader wildlife restoration efforts. Yadav also referred to the government’s October 7 announcement of plans to develop a third habitat for cheetahs at Nauradehi, named after Rani Durgavati.

Highlighting development prospects in the region, the chief minister said the elimination of Naxalism in Madhya Pradesh had opened up new opportunities for development.

With the initial group now moved into a substantially larger enclosure, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the wild buffaloes can successfully adapt before their eventual transition into the wider forest habitat. The three-year target will test the state’s ability to turn a historic return into a sustainable conservation success.