Madhya Pradesh Begins Wild Buffalo Reintroduction After a Century

On 11 October 2026, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav released eight wild water buffaloes into a 17-hectare enclosure in the Supkhar range of Kanha Tiger Reserve. The animals came from Assam’s Kaziranga National Park as part of a phased programme to restore the species in Madhya Pradesh, where it had disappeared from forests about a century ago.

Wild Water Buffalo: Species and Habitat

The wild water buffalo, scientifically known as Bubalus arnee, is a large bovine native to South and South-East Asia. It is classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Wild water buffalo inhabit grasslands, wetlands and forested areas, and depend on access to water. Kanha Tiger Reserve lies in the Maikal range of Madhya Pradesh and includes Kanha National Park. The national park was established in 1955, and Kanha was included in Project Tiger in 1973. Kaziranga National Park, the source of the buffaloes, is in Assam and is also a tiger reserve.

Translocation and Acclimatisation

The first group of four buffaloes—three females and one male—arrived at Kanha on 28 April 2026. A second group of four, with the same sex composition, arrived on 9 May 2026. The eight animals comprise six females and two males. Before entering the 17-hectare enclosure, the buffaloes were kept in a one-hectare enclosure for acclimatisation and quarantine. The animals are to be prepared gradually for release into their natural habitat after the monsoon season. Quarantine helps manage the risk of transferring infectious diseases between animal populations.

Reintroduction Programme

Madhya Pradesh plans to reintroduce 50 wild buffaloes in the Kanha region over three years. Assam has agreed to supply 50 animals in phases during that period. The eight animals placed in the larger enclosure form part of this inter-state programme; they have not yet been released into the open forest.

Important Facts for Exams

• Bubalus arnee is the scientific name of the wild water buffalo.
• Project Tiger was launched in India in 1973.
• Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam.
• The Wildlife (Protection) Act was enacted in 1972.

The current Kanha group consists of six females and two males. The programme’s stated target is 50 buffaloes over three years.