https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Conserving Wild Buffalo in Chhattisgarh

Indian Masterminds Stories

Global warming, climate change, deforestation and industrialisation have majorly impacted our eco-system and many species are now facing extinction. Various species like tigers, Asiatic elephant, snow leopard, panda and number of birds have been declared as endangered species. While conservation of some of these species including the big cats are given importance worldwide, some species like the wild buffalo have been sidelined. 

The population of wild buffalo (Bubalus Arnee) in India can be divided into two circuits, central India and Northeast. Although an estimated population of around 4000 exists in the northeast, an alarming decline has been witnessed in the central India circuit. Currently, not more than 50 buffaloes exist in the central Indian landscape, restricted to two pockets in Chhattisgarh and a small area in bordering Maharashtra. 

The recent drastic decline in the wild buffalo population in Chhattisgarh led the state government to declare it as ‘state animal’ and make all-out efforts to recover its dwindling population. A wild buffalo couple from the Northeast has been reintroduced in Chhattisgarh for conservation breeding as the state government attempts every possible measure to increase the number. 

Indian Masterminds talked to two wildlife conservationists to know more about the alarming dwindling numbers of wild buffalo and the reasons behind it. Senior IFS officer, Mr. Ramesh Pandey, and Dr. Samir Kumar Sinha from Wildlife Trust India cited the reasons behind the endangerment of wild buffalos and shared their views on how to go about conservation. 

REASONS BEHIND ENDANGERMENT 

The wild buffalo is the progenitor of domestic buffalo. The species is an endangered species as per IUCN Red List and a Schedule 1 species as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.  These animals require large spaces with adequate food and water supply, but habitat fragmentation and degradation of forest and grasslands have resulted in population decline. The species witnessed a severe population decline at the turn of the 20th century, with many instances of local extermination from its historical range. 

Highlighting another reason, Mr. Samir Kumar Sinha said, “Hunting and retaliatory killing as an aftermath of crop depredation in fringe villages have also led to their population decline. Apart from decline in number, loss of genetic purity due to inbreeding with domestic buffalo in many areas and small isolated populations is another important concern.” 

Dr. Samir Kumar Sinha, Head of Conservation, Wildlife Trust of India

WHY BUFFALO CONSERVATION IS LESS TALKED ABOUT

Senior Indian Forest Services officer who is known for his works in wildlife protection, Mr. Ramesh Pandey said that although the wild buffalo has been depicted in historical texts, it is less focused on in terms of species-specific conservation efforts, unlike other species like tiger and elephant. “It is due to the fact that the species has never been projected as an exclusive species and the ecological role it plays in nature has not been given due recognition. They are prey species and have been domesticated also. So, their extinction issue is somewhere side lined.” 

Senior IFS officer Ramesh Pandey

Mr. Samir Kumar Sinha opined that the majority of the wild buffalo population is inside protected areas where more emphasis is on key predators and their prey species, which also helps the wild buffaloes in one way. However, “mitigation of species-specific threats takes a back seat, as has been in the case of wild buffalo,”, he added. 

IMPORTANCE IN ECO-SYSTEM 

Mega herbivores like wild buffalo are important for maintenance of grassland ecosystem and vegetation structure. They generally feed on tall and coarse grasses which facilitates fresh sprouting on which medium-sized herbivores (such as many deer species) depend. Thus, they play an important role of natural grass-cutter. This ecological function will be affected in the absence of the species, especially in areas where other mega-herbivores (such as gaur, rhino, elephant, etc.) are not present.

CONSERVATION EFFORTS 

Every species has its own role and importance, which should be considered while assigning conservation priority. Tiger is an umbrella species, hence becomes more significant in the landscapes it inhabits. While species like wild buffalo needs site-specific efforts to mitigate threats.

Mr. Sinha informed that in India, the major issue is in central India, where population has decimated over the last few decades and localized the wild buffalos in two small pockets. There their population is divided into two circuits. “The Udanti-Sitanadi population faces lack of females in the small population and the Indravati population is also small with around 50 wild buffalos. The only way out is to rewild the historical range with wild buffalo population and provide necessary protection and conservation inputs for the existing small populations.” 

He also mentioned that the Indravati area faces problem due to red-wing extremism for which strong political will and a sense of pride among people are necessary.

All in all, conservation breeding and reintroduction measures are the last resorts to revive the population at historical sites in the central Indian landscape, especially in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana. Chhattisgarh has taken initiative in this direction, which needs to be expedited if we really want to see the species flourishing in the region in the near future.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Civil Services Day 2025 Awards by PM Modi
Civil Services Day 25: 16 IAS Officers Honoured for Excellence in Public Administration - Know More About Them
Civil Services Day 2025 Awards IAS officers
Civil Services Day 25: Inspired by PM’s Vision - Awarded IAS Officers Share Stories of Grassroots Impact
MTNL
MTNL Defaults on Loans Worth Rs. 8,346 Crore; Total Debt Climbs to Rs. 33,568 Crore
Gujarat-government resized
4 IAS Officers Assigned Additional Charges in Gujarat, Ajay Prakash Given Additional Charge As MD, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd
Punjab_govt_resized
3 IAS & 9 PCS Officers Transferred in Punjab, Sanyam Aggarwal Given Additional Charge As Special Secy, Health and Family Welfare
DGP OM Praksh with his wife1
Retired Karnataka DGP Om Prakash Murdered; Family Dispute or Mental Illness, What Prompted the Homicide?
LIC resized
Pradip Kusum Joseph Dungdung Takes Charge as LIC's Additional Executive Director (Engineering)
IRCTC
Rabindra Nath Mishra to Continue as Director (Finance), IRCTC - Know About Him
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
UPSC Stories
images (14)
Utsav Anand, the UPSC Topper Who Chose Public Service Over a Plush Career
From IIT Bombay to the 2022 IAS batch (Haryana cadre), Utsav Anand’s journey is proof that sharp minds...
pushplata-yadav-ias
How IAS Pushp Lata’s Strategy and Spirit Took Her to AIR 80
From rural Haryana to IAS, Pushp Lata Yadav’s journey reflects focused planning, adaptation, and the...
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
IRS officer Padmapani Bora's 16-year career transcends typical bureaucracy. Discover his surprising journey...
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Civil Services Day 2025 Awards by PM Modi
Civil Services Day 25: 16 IAS Officers Honoured for Excellence in Public Administration - Know More About Them
Civil Services Day 2025 Awards IAS officers
Civil Services Day 25: Inspired by PM’s Vision - Awarded IAS Officers Share Stories of Grassroots Impact
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT