17 villages unite to bring back Chhattisgarh’s endangered wild buffalo

Raipur: In a rare show of grassroots conservation, forest-dwelling communities from 17 villages inside the Udanti (Core) area of the Udanti–Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) in Gariaband have come together to revive the wild buffalo, Chhattisgarh's state animal and one of India's most endangered mega-herbivores. Once spread across Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, the wild buffalo has disappeared from most of Central India. Today, USTR remains the only protected area in the region with a confirmed presence of a pure wild buffalo, a 26-year-old male known locally as Chhotu. Officials say the species' survival is closely tied to the ecological identity of the state. USTR deputy director Varun Jain said that on December 14, representatives of 17 gram sabhas met to build consensus on boosting the buffalo population. The meeting, attended by 57 community members including former sarpanches, village leaders and NGOs, marked a turning point in people-led conservation. Villagers pledged to curb forest fires, stop illegal tree felling and voluntarily vacate encroached forest land to help restore wildlife habitats. A wild buffalo breeding centre has existed in USTR since 2006, but renewed efforts gained momentum after successful conservation steps elsewhere in the state. In 2020 and 2023, the Forest Department translocated five female and one male wild buffalo from Assam's Manas National Park to Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary. The population there has since grown to 11, with five calves born in the past two years. With security conditions improving in USTR, the department is now preparing to move three female buffaloes from Barnawapara to Udanti–Sitanadi to prevent inbreeding. After a 45-day quarantine and radio-collaring, the animals will be released under the supervision of the Wildlife Institute of India, the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Forest Department. Ecologists underline the importance of the species, calling the wild buffalo a keystone animal. Its grazing keeps grasslands healthy, supports other herbivores like deer and helps sustain wetland ecosystems due to its dependence on water bodies.To prepare for the species' return, USTR has restored grasslands, removed invasive weeds and created solar-powered water holes. Nearly 750 hectares of encroached land have been cleared, and anti-poaching measures strengthened. USTR prepares for return of species:The reserve also plans to use the Elephant Alert App to track buffalo movement, deploy Van Bhainsa Mitra Dal foot patrols and launch an online portal to settle crop and cattle loss compensation within 30 days. Community leaders say local involvement is key. Arjun Singh Nayak, President of the Gram Sabha Federation, USTR, said that local communities have a responsibility to protect the state animal. He said they are working to create awareness among villagers who enter buffalo habitats for grazing domestic cattle. Karlajhar sarpanch Sahebin Shyamlal said that village-level committees were formed to ensure wildlife in the reserve remains protected. Elsewhere, Indravati National Park in Bijapur district is believed to shelter around 15 of the nearly 20 wild buffaloes left in Chhattisgarh. Forest officials stress that restoring peace in the Bastar region is crucial to safeguarding this last remaining population. Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the wild buffalo's future in Chhattisgarh now hinges on a rare alliance of science, security and community stewardship.