By Sanjeeb Baruah, IANS
Raipur : Chhattisgarh’s state animal, the wild buffalo, is on its last legs. Only seven of the animals are registered in the official records, and authorities are now thinking of implementing drastic conservation measures.
The Udanti and Indravati wildlife sanctuaries in the state are the only places in central India where genetically ‘pure’ wild buffaloes (bos bubalis) are to be found.
Though some wild buffaloes are also found in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, it is not known how ‘pure’ they are genetically. Wild buffaloes have become rare across India due to crossbreeding with domestic buffaloes.
Incidentally, despite the wild buffalo being the state animal, there are no previous records about its population figures. The first census was carried out this year.
Another sanctuary in Chhattisgarh known to have been home to the animals was Pamed, but there are no wild buffaloes left there.
“The matter is very serious. We have to start something soon,” said R.N. Mishra, principal chief conservator of forests.
The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is to submit a report to the government on the conservation measures being taken up.
“WTI has lined up a number of activities. These will be sent to the government for approval. The forest department will initiate the work once it is approved,” Rahul Kaul of WTI told IANS.
Of the seven wild buffaloes in Udanti, only one is female.
“We need to take urgent steps to protect them since they are in very small numbers and may quickly become extinct,” warned Prabal Sarkar of WTI.
He pointed out that population studies were never conducted at the forests in Indravati due to fear of attacks by Maoists. So it is not known if there are any wild buffaloes there, but officials say the possibility is highly unlikely.
“We brought the female buffalo and her calf to an enclosure inside the Udanti forests since we are planning to involve her in a captive breeding programme after the calf stops drinking milk,” said Mishra, the project supervisor.
“Each (conservation) activity will have a different timeline; some will be completed early, while some over a longer period,” Kaul added.
“Cattle grazing, encroachments, loss of natural water sources and frequent forest fires have affected the habitat, leading to their decline,” Mishra said. “Hunting for meat by the locals has also lowered their population.”
A state wildlife advisory board meeting was held last week and a plan to conserve wild buffaloes was discussed. The state forest minister, officials and conservation organisations attended the meet.
Measures high on the agenda are: conduct a genetic study of wild buffaloes, restrict domestic buffaloes in the sanctuaries, get additional manpower to undertake conservation, and study the condition of the animal’s habitat.