Conservationists raise concerns over wild buffaloes’ translocation
   Date :08-Sep-2019

 
By Roshan Chachane :
 
RAIPUR
 
Chhattisgarh Forest Department will begin the complex translocation of Buffaloes, an almost 1,500 kilometres long arduous journey, in October  
 
As the Chhattisgarh Forest officials advance in their preparations to translocate the wild water buffaloes from the far-off Manas National Park of Assam to Udanti-Sitanadi-Tiger Reserve (USTR), many wildlife conservationists are skeptical of this move. Raising serious question on the survivability of buffaloes, the conservationists are apprehensive about the ‘post-translocation effect’ on the breeding pattern of the beast in an altogether different bio-eco system here, with reference to change in the climate, landscape and forest cover. In this high-stake attempt aimed at the conservation of State Animal, Chhattisgarh Forest Department will begin the complex translocation of Buffaloes, an almost 1,500 kilometres long arduous journey, in October. Survivability of any wild animal depends on two major factors i.e. climate and food, but if the animal is social (if it lives in the group) then the societal factor also comes to play a major role in surviving. Expressing their concerns, a wildlife conservationist requesting anonymity pointed out that the Manas National Park is located in the foothills of the Bhutan Himalayas in Baksa and Chirang districts (2635’-2650’N, 9045’-9115, E).
 
Elevation ranges from 50 metres Above Sea Level (ASL) on the southern boundary to 200 m ASL along the Bhutan Mountains. The Manas National Park sprawls over 2837 sq km including an area of 500 sq. km buffer zone. The climate of Manas is moist tropical owing to an annual rainfall between 3000 mm to 4000 mm. The climate can be divided into four distinct seasons based on the variations in the rainfall, temperature and winds such as winter in December-February characterized by cool weather and fog when the temperature hovers around 20C + 5C. January is the coldest month. Average total rainfall is 114 mm with a relative humidity of 77% + 5, he informed.
 
According to this conservationist, who is quite skeptical about this translocation move, the geographical pattern of USTR is relatively small as it is 1842.54 sq km total area including the core area of 851.09 sq km and buffer area of 991.45 sq km, located at an elevation of 320 to 370 meters above sea level and a longitude of 82032’E to 8200’E and latitude 2000’N to 20015’N. “Since wild animals are highly sensitive to change in climatic conditions not just for the survival but also for breeding, the female buffaloes from Assam may find themselves in a situation like fish out of water.
 
Had the Forest Department translocated the wild buffaloes from any of the neighbouring states such as Maharashtra, adaptability and survivability of the animal would have been much easier,” he explained. Another worrisome fact is the Chhattisgarh Forest Department’s dark and stalking record in wildlife conservation, buffalo in particular. “The population of wild buffalo saw a steep decline from 61 buffaloes in 2005 to just 12 buffaloes in 2006. However, some experts believe it to be a counting error. But, the Department also hasn’t yet able to establish the reason for so many deaths of the buffaloes. In 2018, 23 Blackbucks disappeared without any trace,” he lamented.
 
On the contrary, Wildlife Trust of India official Dr Rajendra Mishra allaying the apprehension of wildlife conservationists clarified that buffaloes can adapt to the new climate of Chhattisgarh. “As it has been often observed that animals brought from different nations are kept in local zoos and eventually they adapt to the environment, without much of a problem. Besides, the buffaloes will be kept in an enclosure under round-the-clock monitoring since they are being brought here for a sole purpose of their conservation. Sometime later, post their breeding here, their calves will be released into the wild,” he added