📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Bernard Gagnon
Science
Barasingha numbers soar past 1,100 in Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 18 Oct 2026, 10:45 PM
👁 12
The swamp‑deer (barasingha) population in Kanha Tiger Reserve has risen to over 1,100, up from just 66 in 1970.
The barasingha, a large swamp‑deer native to central India, has seen its numbers in Kanha Tiger Reserve climb dramatically. Recent surveys record more than 1,100 individuals, a stark contrast to the mere 66 counted in 1970. Conservation measures such as anti‑poaching patrols, habitat restoration and community engagement are credited for the rebound.
State wildlife officials say the population growth reflects the success of long‑term management plans that focus on protecting grassland and water sources essential for the species. The increase also supports the broader ecosystem, providing prey for predators and maintaining biodiversity.
Parallel efforts are under way in Satpura and Bandhavgarh reserves, where authorities are similarly working to expand barasingha habitats. While figures from those areas are still being compiled, the trend in Kanha offers a hopeful model for other protected zones across Madhya Pradesh.
State wildlife officials say the population growth reflects the success of long‑term management plans that focus on protecting grassland and water sources essential for the species. The increase also supports the broader ecosystem, providing prey for predators and maintaining biodiversity.
Parallel efforts are under way in Satpura and Bandhavgarh reserves, where authorities are similarly working to expand barasingha habitats. While figures from those areas are still being compiled, the trend in Kanha offers a hopeful model for other protected zones across Madhya Pradesh.