Kanha Reserve to Welcome Wild Buffaloes After a Century, Transforming Maoist Corridor

• Kanha Tiger Reserve's Supkhar range will reintroduce wild buffaloes, a species extinct in Madhya Pradesh for over 100 years.
• The first batch of 10 wild buffaloes from Assam is expected by February–March 2026, with 50 animals planned over five years.
• This area, once a Maoist corridor, is now safe for conservation initiatives following the elimination and surrender of Maoist cadres.
• The reintroduction is part of a wildlife exchange program: MP gets 50 wild buffaloes, a pair of rhinos, and three cobras from Assam; Assam receives a pair of tigers and six crocodiles from MP.
• The project has received National Tiger Conservation Authority clearance, with Central Zoo Authority and central government approvals pending.

Why It Matters: Kanha Tiger Reserve is reintroducing wild buffaloes, transforming a former Maoist area into a wildlife conservation hub.