Water Buffaloes in Tiger Abode

April 30, 2026

Four wild water buffaloes (one male and three females) have been translocated from Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) to Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha Tiger Reserve in a landmark conservation effort to restore an endangered species to its historic range.

A total of 15 wild water buffaloes, including females, will be translocated to the Kanha Tiger Reserve in different phases.The Assam and Madhya Pradesh Forest Departments have officially commenced the translocation of the Asiatic wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) from the KNPTR to the Kanha Tiger Reserve. 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, while also leveraging their natural grazing behaviour to manage tall grass species and enhance biodiversity in the Kanha grasslands.

On April 25, the first batch of four buffaloes (one male and three females) was loaded into specialised transport vehicles and flagged off by forest officials from both Kaziranga and Kanha.

The capture, quarantine and loading of the wild buffaloes were carried out with the active participation of observers, including Kaushik Barua, Member of the Assam State Board of Wildlife, as well as local media representatives and members of jeep safari associations.

The transportation convoy included dedicated support vehicles carrying grass feed, drinking water, and logistical supplies, staffed by a team of veterinary and forest professionals to ensure the welfare of the animals throughout their three- to four-day road journey.The conservation translocation of wild buffaloes from Kaziranga to Kanha is one of the longest such journeys, covering over 2,000 km by road.Prior to this, four animals from Manas National Park were translocated to Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh in April 2020.

Despite adverse conditions, including incessant rain, the field teams, especially forest frontline staff who supported the lifting and transportation of animals weighing over 600 kg, performed commendably, strengthening the rapid response and wild animal handling capabilities of the Kaziranga and Assam Forest Department.As a gesture to further boost conservation translocations, Madhya Pradesh has expressed willingness to provide gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) for potential reintroduction in their historical range in AssamBetween March 19 and April 10, seven sub-adult buffaloes were captured across the Central and Eastern ranges of Kaziranga.

One female wild buffalo housed at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) was also cleared for translocation.