GUWAHATI, April 28: In a landmark conservation effort to restore an endangered species to its historic range, the forest departments of Assam and Madhya Pradesh have officially commenced the translocation of Asiatic wild water buffaloes (Bubalus arnee) from the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve to the Kanha Tiger Reserve.
Sources at Kaziranga on Tuesday informed that the joint initiative aims to reintroduce the megaherbivores to their ancestral home in central India, where they have been locally extinct for over a century, and to leverage their natural grazing behaviour to manage tall grass species and enhance biodiversity in the Kanha grasslands.
The Asiatic Wild Water Buffalo, which is listed as Schedule I species under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is globally listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List, stands at fewer than 4,000 individuals, with roughly 99 percent residing in Assam alone.
To secure the species’ future, the multi-phased project targets the translocation of 50 wild buffaloes as permitted under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 from Kaziranga to Kanha in the next one year.
A Wildlife Institute of India feasibility study had identified Kanha National Park’s grasslands and meadows as ideal — mirroring Kaziranga’s habitat.
It may be recalled that in January this year, forest officials from both states had conducted rigorous reconnaissance surveys and planning sessions to finalise the selection of buffalo herds and capture sites.
A comprehensive translocation protocol was subsequently developed, which included the construction of specialised holding enclosures for the capture-acclimatisation phase and the ultimate soft release at Kanha. Target animals in the buffalo herds were identified largely in Kaziranga and Agaratoli ranges of Kaziranga National Park.
Thereafter, following comprehensive preparations and a full-scale mock drill to test logistics and chemical immobilisation protocols, capture operations began on March 18, 2026 at Kaziranga National Park.
Under the overall supervision of Kaziranga field director Kaziranga, Sonali Ghosh, the field teams utilised chemical capture techniques to safely secure the animals.
Between March 19 and April 10, 2026, seven sub-adult buffaloes were captured across the central and eastern ranges of Kaziranga. One female wild buffalo housed at CWRC, Kaziranga, was also accorded permission for translocation.
“To ensure their well-being and quarantine protocol, the captured animals were held in two specialised enclosures, constructed of natural materials like Bombax ceiba (simul) and reinforced with solar fencing. This intervening period allowed the buffaloes to habituate to caretakers, health monitoring, and transport vehicles, significantly minimising potential stress during the transfer,” an official said.
On April 25, 2026, the first batch of four buffaloes (one male and three females) were loaded into specialised transportation vehicles and flagged off by forest officials from both Kaziranga and Kanha.
Upon arriving at Kanha Tiger Reserve, the buffaloes will be placed into a large holding enclosure. They will undergo further health monitoring and continued acclimatisation to their new environment before a planned “soft release” into the wild.
A second batch of four buffaloes is scheduled for transport by April 30, marking continued progress in the vital rewilding
