Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has completed all necessary preparations to relocate nearly 50 wild Asiatic water buffaloes to Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh in a phased manner.
Although the initial proposal suggested moving around 15 buffaloes in the first phase, officials are now considering relocating only five to six animals.
Divisional Forest Officer of the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division (Kaziranga), Arun Vignesh said that the translocation will start with a smaller group of animals before gradually increasing the number in subsequent phases.
Hence, 5 to 6 buffaloes will be sent to see the feasibility of translocating bigger numbers. This, he explained, will help assess the feasibility and logistics involved before scaling up the operation.
On March 18 and 19, the capturing of wild buffalors of Kaziranga will begin through tranquillization.
The animals will be loaded onto vehicles and transported to Kanha Tiger Reserve March 21. Senior officials and veterinarians will accompany the buffaloes throughout the journey.
Also Read: Jeep safaris and elephant rides halted in Kaziranga’s Kohora Range until March 19
Kohora Central Range Officer Bibhuti Ranjan Gogoi said a mock drill for the operation was conducted on Monday to ensure that the translocation process is carried out smoothly and safely. The exercise included procedures for capturing wild buffaloes, administering tranquilizers, managing emergencies, and safely handling and loading the animals onto transport vehicles.
Further, as per reports, a dedicated implementation committee has been formed for the operation, led by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and the Deputy Conservator of Forests of the national park.
