Indian Bison Makes Successful Return to Madhya Pradesh Reserve

Comeback In Madhya Pradesh

Decades after vanishing from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, the gaur, also known as the Indian bison, has made a successful return following targeted conservation work. Back in 2011 and 2012, a group of 40 gaur were brought over from the Kanha Tiger Reserve. Today, the population inside Bandhavgarh has grown to more than 220 animals.

Size And Habitat

The gaur holds the title of the world's biggest wild bovine. Adult bulls can reach up to two metres in height and weigh around 1,500 kilograms, which is comparable to the weight of a car. Males generally have dark, near-black coats, while females sport a lighter reddish-brown colour. Both sexes feature upward-curving horns and a shoulder hump, which is most noticeable in adult males. These animals live in small herds usually led by a matriarch and help keep ecosystems healthy by eating grass, bamboo, and leaves, which spreads seeds and tills the soil. They also serve as prey for tigers, leopards, and dholes.

Threats And Protection

Globally, the gaur lives in evergreen and deciduous forests across the Western Ghats as well as central and northeastern parts of India, alongside countries like Nepal, Bhutan, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. India holds about 85 percent of the estimated global population of 13,000 to 30,000 animals, and the species serves as the official state animal of both Goa and Bihar. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the gaur as vulnerable, and the species gets top legal protection in India under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. However, habitat loss and fragmentation caused by farming, development, and invasive species threaten their survival. T. Ramesh, a senior scientist at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, noted in a 2025 report that invasive species have taken over many grasslands, leaving less food for gaur and pushing them closer to human settlements, though some populations in places like the Nilgiris, Coonoor, and Kotagiri are adapting by changing their habits to coexist with people.

Context

Wildlife reintroduction programs aim to rebuild local animal populations in areas where species have previously died out due to hunting or habitat loss. By moving animals from healthy reserves to protected habitats like Bandhavgarh, conservationists help restore balanced ecosystems and protect vulnerable species from regional extinction. Understanding these population shifts helps authorities manage protected forests and handle wildlife interactions near human settlements effectively.