Plan for conservation of Bison

Bhopal, Apr 11: Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has chalked out a unique plan for long-term conservation of Bison species. Under this plan, bisons would be sent from Kanha Tiger Reserve to Bandhavgarh National Park. The number of this species is fast coming down and therefore, it has become imperative to release bisons in the areas where they can multiply through natural breeding in vast environs.

This scheme is being started in Madhya Pradesh for the first time in the country which would prove to be very useful in wildlife management. Minister for Forest, Vijay Shah has said that a team of Forest Department officers is being sent to South Africa for undergoing rehabilitation training. It may be mentioned here that transfer and rehabilitation of wild animals is undertaken as per some set procedure in which South African forest officer have expertise and required experience. With a view to implementing this scheme, first of all a five-member team of Forest Department officers would pay a study tour to South Africa. The team, which would depart this month, comprises Area Director, Bandhavgarh National Park, Aseem Shrivastava, Deputy Director, Kanha Tiger Reserve, Shubh Ranjan Sen, Deputy Director, Panna National Park, AK Nagar, veterinarian Dr Sanjeev Gupta and Wildlife Institute of India's Parag Nigam.

Under the joint efforts of Conservation Corporation of Africa and Forest Department, a herd of 20 bisons would be released in Bandhavgarh National Park. Bisons were found in Bandhavgarh National Park before the year 1994. The orders to rehabilitate bisons there were given to department officers by Forest Minister Vijay Shah. It may be mentioned that Conservation Corporation of Africa is a Safari company which has set up Taj Safari Limited with the cooperation of Taj Group. This group is also extending technical as well as financial assistance in trans-habilitation of bisons in Bandhavgarh National Park.