Ready to translocate of Asiatic Wild Buffalo from Kaziranga to Kanha Tiger Reserve :
March 16 – 2026 :
The Assam Forest Department will send 15 Asiatic wild buffaloes from Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve to Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh for reintroduction. For this, today at Kaziranga National Park, members of the Wild Buffalo Translocation Implementation Committee carried out a monk drill for the translocation process. In the presence of local observers, the procedures for capturing wild buffaloes were tested, including tranquilization techniques, emergency management, control of the captured buffaloes, and loading them onto vehicles. To oversee the process, separate committees have been formed under the leadership of the Division Forest Officer and Deputy Conservator of Forests of the park.

For tranquilization and health examination of the captured buffaloes, a five-member veterinary team has been prepared under the leadership of Dr. Saurav Burhagohain, Forest Department Veterinarian, and Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, Senior Veterinarian of the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Centre.

Following today’s monk drill, tranquilization techniques will be finalized for the capture scheduled on 17 March, during which tourist entry will remain closed. On 18 and 19 March, wild buffaloes will be captured, kept in temporary enclosures, and undergo health examinations. After completion of this process, on 21 March, the buffaloes will be loaded onto vehicles and sent to Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, accompanied by a team of senior officials and veterinarians.

It is noteworthy that Kaziranga National Park is the last stronghold of the Asiatic wild buffalo population in India. Earlier, Dibru-Saikhowa and Manas National Parks in the Brahmaputra Valley were ideal habitats for this species. According to the latest Forest Department survey, Kaziranga National Park currently has an estimated population of around 1,050 Asiatic wild buffaloes.