MP: Helicopter and Boma Operation Underway; 501 Blackbucks and 59 Blue Bulls Released into National Park So Far

Following Instruction's of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, forest department has initiated an innovative campaign employing helicopters and the boma technique, in collaboration with conservation experts from South Africa and the Forest Department, to address crop damage caused by blackbucks and blue bulls in the revenue areas of Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the western region of the state. 

On Friday, a boma trap was installed in Lahori Badla village, Lahori Tehsil, Shajapur district, as part of this effort. In total, 59 blue bulls from villages including Lahori, Singarchori, Pipliya Indore, Naya Samajkheda, Khoriya, Viklakhadi, Mullakhadi, Pipliya Gopal, Chhajiyajipur, Sankota, and Bopa Ka Dera have been trapped and released into the forests of national parks.

So far, the campaign has successfully trapped and relocated 501 blackbucks and 59 blue bulls to protected forest areas and national parks. This initiative is expected to reduce crop damage for farmers and provide a solution to their long-standing problems. It is the first campaign of its kind in India.

Key officials, including Shajapur MLA Arun Bhimawad, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Shubhranjan Sen, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Cheetah Project Director Uttam Sharma, and Chief Conservator of Forests, Ujjain, M.R. Baghel, supervised the trapping and release operations at the boma sites.

The forest department has formed a dedicated field team trained alongside the South African conservation team, which will continue to conduct capture operations for blackbucks and blue bulls in the near future. The district administration, police, and local villagers are assisting with the campaign.

Villagers have been requested by the forest department not to chase the animals during helicopter-driven herding operations to ensure the safety of both wildlife and people. The campaign will continue until the first week of November 2025, aiming to provide relief to farmers by controlling the wildlife population responsible for agricultural damage.