Bandhavgarh and Kanha reserves implement wildlife reintroduction programs

Conservation efforts are underway in Madhya Pradesh to restore large herbivore populations in the Bandhavgarh and Kanha Tiger Reserves.

In Bandhavgarh, officials have successfully worked to increase the population of the Indian Bison (Gaur). After the species went extinct in the area in 1998, a reintroduction program began in 2011-12 using 50 animals from Kanha. Recent efforts to maintain genetic diversity included bringing in 23 Gaur in February 2025 and another 27 in January 2026. The current population in the Bandhavgarh landscape is estimated to be between 220 and 240. To monitor these animals, officials use VHF collars, horn sleeves, and ear tags.

Simultaneously, Kanha Tiger Reserve is implementing a plan to reintroduce Wild Buffalo. The goal is to bring in 50 Wild Buffalo over a three-year period. As of the latest updates, eight animals have arrived in two separate shipments. These animals will initially be kept in enclosures and will be gradually released into their natural habitats as the population grows to ensure a systematic increase in their numbers.