Madhya Pradesh: Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Set To Get 25 Swamp Deer From Kanha | FP Photo
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is preparing to receive 25 swamp deer (Barahsingha) from Kanha Tiger Reserve soon. Once the new arrivals reach Bandhavgarh, the total population of swamp deer in the reserve will increase to 75.
Prakash Kumar Verma, Deputy Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, told Free Press that the reserve currently houses about 56 swamp deer within its enclosure. Of these, 48 were relocated from Kanha in two phases, while the remaining eight were born inside the enclosure.
Once the 25 new swamp deer arrive, the population inside the enclosure will rise to 75, and approximately 50 of them will eventually be released into the open range. Currently, there are no swamp deer living in the wild in Bandhavgarh.
Conservation at Kanha
Historical evidence suggests that central India, including Bandhavgarh, once boasted a healthy population of hard ground swamp deer. However, in the 1970s, the swamp deer population drastically declined to just 55 due to encroachment on marshy lands, their primary feeding grounds.
In response, conservation efforts were launched, with Kanha Tiger Reserve becoming the central hub for swamp deer conservation. Over time, Kanha’s population grew to overflowing level due to rigorous conservation strategies.
To prevent the risks of inbreeding and ensure genetic diversity, some swamp deer were relocated to Van Vihar and Satpura Tiger Reserve earlier. Satpura now hosts over 150 swamp deer, while Van Vihar also maintains a significant population.Now, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is working to restore the swamp deer population in the region.
