Why in news?
The wild water buffalo, India’s state animal of Chhattisgarh, is on the brink of extinction in central India. In the Udanti‑ Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) only one pure male named “Chhotu” remains. Authorities and local communities have launched programmes to restore the species and its habitat.
Background
USTR in Chhattisgarh spans the Udanti and Sitanadi river catchments. It shelters tigers, leopards and wild water buffaloes. Over the past decade poaching and hybridisation with domestic buffaloes reduced the pure‑bred population. In 2012 a female and her male calf were kept in a secure boma, but both died before breeding. Today only one pure-bred male — Chhotu — and a few hybrids survive in the reserve.
Conservation efforts
- Forest officials plan to translocate two female buffaloes from the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, where earlier introductions from Assam produced four calves.
- Villagers from 17 surrounding hamlets have pledged to restore grasslands, prevent fires and vacate encroached areas.
- Habitat management includes weed removal, water hole creation and protection from cattle diseases.
- Authorities seek to bring pure buffaloes from Assam to diversify the gene pool and start a captive breeding programme.
Conclusion
The survival of Chhattisgarh’s wild buffalo depends on timely translocation of females, strict protection and community cooperation. Restoring this keystone herbivore will also benefit grasslands and other wildlife in USTR.
Source: IE