Our conversation with Mr. Sandeep Agarwal a veterinarian at Kanha National Park was an eye opener. I was at Courtyard House Kanha along with retired PCCF of Jharkhand and a senior member of State Forest Division in Madhya Pradesh.
The preface to the story is that the bison in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve became extinct few years back. This was perhaps due to possible out break of disease from local livestock or reduction in population. As far as it is known there were no cases of poaching recorded within or outside the reserve.
The extinction of bison a coarse feeder was a major set back to conservation efforts at the tiger reserve. This created a vital gap in the ecosystem. During my visit to the reserve in the seventies about sixty two heads of this animal were regularly seen at Raj Bohera Meadow as well as at Bhadrasila Tank. In the subsequent years the numbers declined in spite of protection awarded. It appears that no scientific studies nor extensive research was conducted to save the coarse feeder.
Also known as gaur the animal lost ground and became locally extinct. This was perhaps the last population in and around Bandhavgarh. There were reports of gaur having migrated to GhunGhuti Forests near by but there was no substance. Why would this animal leave a well maintained ecosystem?
{Ghunghuti Forests are categorized as reserve forests and not included in the Project Tiger Program. Recently a cowherd was mauled to death by a tiger here. }
After recent success achieved in trans location of tiger to Panna National Park the shifting of this animal to Bandhavgarh was imminent. Hence about fifty heads were trans located from Kanha National Park in MP. The decision was taken on the basis that these animals were thriving in Kanha. The trans located animals were at first kept in a large pen bounded with strong fence for some time. This was done so that the animals could acclimatize to the new ecosystem.
The animals have now settled well and reproduced successfully. There number is reported to eighty heads along with the calves. The project was a great success,
a vital element of the ecosystem has been restored at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in MP in India.
Wildlife of India 