Bhopal, April 27 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh is set to achieve another landmark in wildlife conservation as Chief Minister Mohan Yadav prepares to launch the wild buffalo reintroduction programme on Tuesday (April 28, 2026). Following the global attention received by the cheetah project, this initiative aims to restore a species that has been extinct in the state for over a hundred years.

The programme will officially begin in the Supkhar and Topla regions of Balaghat district, where Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will release a founder group consisting of three females and one male into their new natural habitat, said a press release.

This ambitious translocation project involves bringing 50 wild buffaloes from Kaziranga National Park in Assam to the Kanha Tiger Reserve. The first phase is already underway, with eight buffaloes scheduled for transfer during the current season.

The project is being executed with scientific precision under the watchful eyes of senior forest officials and specialised veterinarians from both states. This move is expected to significantly bolster the grassland ecosystem of Kanha and restore a vital ecological balance that was lost due to hunting and habitat degradation over the last century, the press release said.

Beyond the buffalo reintroduction, a broader biodiversity exchange has been established between Madhya Pradesh and Assam. Under an agreement reached between Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Madhya Pradesh will receive two pairs of rhinoceroses for Bhopal’s Van Vihar National Park.

In exchange, the state will provide Assam with three tigers and six crocodiles, fostering a new era of inter-state cooperation in wildlife management. This strategic partnership further cements Madhya Pradesh’s status as a leader in conservation, adding to its existing reputation as the tiger and leopard state of India.

The Supkhar sanctuary area, located within the sprawling expanse of the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Balaghat, serves as a pristine highland meadow ideal for rare herbivores. Characterised by its vast undulating grasslands and perennial water streams, it provides a secluded environment for the reintroduction of wild buffaloes.

Its historical significance is notable, as it was the site of the last recorded wild buffalo sighting in the region back in 1979.

–IANS

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