Rhinos, turtles, dolphins may return to MP; new conservation reserves planned near Panna, Bandhavgarh
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that the state’s rich floral and faunal diversity should be effectively promoted and branded. The richness of the state’s forests and the easy visibility of wildlife within them should be widely publicized. For this, short films, documentaries and promotional capsules should be prepared in collaboration with the Films Division of India, Discovery and other channels to present Madhya Pradesh’s forest specialties to the world. He emphasised that the state’s strengths must be showcased globally.
CM Dr. Mohan Yadav also suggested that while Madhya Pradesh should provide other states with wild animals, it should also receive species from them in return to further enhance the state’s biodiversity. He specifically mentioned efforts to bring the Indian Rhinoceros (one-horned Rhino) from Assam. He also directed preparations for releasing aquatic animals, turtles, gharials and dolphins into the state’s rivers.
CM Yadav was addressing the 30th meeting of the Madhya Pradesh State Wildlife Board at Mantralaya on Friday. Forest and Environment Minister Dilip Ahirwar and Board member Dr. Narayan Vyas joined virtually. Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Neeraj Mandloi, ACS Forest Ashok Barnwal, PCCF V.N Ambade and several wildlife board members were present.
An in-depth discussion took place to transfer three pairs of tigers to Odisha, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. CM emphasised that, while tigers will be sent to these states, Madhya Pradesh should also receive wild animal species from them in exchange to further enrich the state’s biodiversity.
Dr. Alok Kumar, a board member, proposed creating another conservation reserve around Panna and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves, and highlighted the possibility of including the Sonewani Forest Range of Balaghat in a separate conservation reserve. He said this would be a major step in strengthening wildlife conservation in the state.
Gajarakshak App Initiative
CM Dr. Yadav instructed authorities to adopt concrete measures to prevent human-animal conflicts caused by wild elephants. Additional PCCF Krishnamurti informed that an AI-based ‘Gajarakshak’ App has been developed to track elephant movements and notify villagers through SMS when elephants approach human settlements. Radio collaring is also being used, and ‘Elephant Friend Groups’ are being formed in affected districts and forest divisions.