Maharashtra: Gadchiroli district sees rise in buffalo population

Better protection measures, habitat development strategies and involvement of local communities has led to a rise in the population of the endangered Asiatic wild buffaloes in the wild in left-wing extremism affected Gadchiroli district.

The state forest department has launched a project to protect these wild water buffaloes (Bubalus arnee) in their habitat at the Kolamarka conservation reserve located in Aheri taluka. The 180.72 sq km area was declared as a conservation reserve in 2013.

Senior officials from the state forest department said the numbers of wild buffaloes and calves in the conservation reserve had increased from around 16 and 22 in 2015 and 2016 respectively to 30 in 2017. In 2018, the area had around 35 of these animals. A fresh count will be undertaken later this year.

"We have ensured a high standard of protection. The wild buffalo is a shy animal and hence, we try to avoid any human interference. Meadow development undertaken by us and the availability of grass and feed has led to these herds spending time here," said Tushar Chavan, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), Sironcha forest division, adding they had around three herds in the area, up from the previous one.Chavan said these wild buffaloes migrated between the Indravati tiger reserve located across the state's boundary in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra."They shift to Maharashtra when the water of the Indravati river recede after October- November," he explained. "Much of this population is overlapping. We are trying to match the photographs of the two populations to get a better estimate of the numbers," he noted, adding that the authorities in Maharashtra were also looking at adopting good management practices from Chhattisgarh.

Forest officials involved local tribals and villagers in conservation by pointing to the tourism and employment generation potential of the area if these breeds were preserved. The community hunting by locals was also stopped. Village development works like setting up solar high-masts in hamlets and the provision of solar pumps have been undertaken and village eco-development committees were established. Local youth have also been roped in for enumerating these animals.

The global population of wild buffaloes is estimated to be 3,800 of which 3,500 are in India. These animals are accorded the highest level of protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, by inclusion in Schedule I.

Apart from wild buffaloes, bears, nilgai, bison, sambar, chital, wild boar and foxes are also found at Kolamarka. It has two perennial water sources at Jitam and Penkasa.