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The wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is one of India’s most endangered and powerful wild species, and it holds special significance as the state animal of Chhattisgarh. Once found widely across the Indian subcontinent, its numbers have now dropped drastically due to increasing threats like habitat destruction, shrinking wetlands, human interference, and crossbreeding with domestic buffaloes. In Chhattisgarh, a few forested regions still serve as safe homes for these animals, particularly in and around the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve. Understanding where these buffaloes can still survive— and thrive-is crucial for ensuring their protection.
This study was carried out to map and analyse the most suitable areas for wild water buffalo habitats across the state. A total of 13 occurrence points were used in the study: 2 points were taken from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and the remaining 11 were manually marked using Google Earth Pro based on published literature. These points helped in identifying where the species has been seen in the past and where it could possibly live today.
Using MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy Modeling), a reliable tool for species distribution modeling, we combined these occurrence points with various environmental layers—such as elevation, slope, vegetation cover (NDVI), land use/land cover, temperature and rainfall data, and water availability. The model helped us identify areas across Chhattisgarh with varying degrees of habitat suitability, ranging from very low to very high.
The results clearly showed that factors like temperature seasonality, vegetation (NDVI), and annual precipitation play the biggest role in deciding whether an area is suitable for wild buffaloes. Areas with stable seasonal temperatures, good greenery, and consistent rainfall offer the best conditions for the buffaloes to find food, water, and shelter. Many of the high-suitability zones were concentrated in southern and central parts of the state, especially near protected forest regions.
This study highlights how combining GIS tools, ecological data, and modeling techniques can give us valuable insights into wildlife conservation. The habitat suitability maps and findings from this research can guide forest departments, wildlife experts, and conservation organizations in identifying priority areas for protection and future reintroduction efforts. Ultimately, this work aims to support the long-term survival of wild water buffaloes in Chhattisgarh by helping to ensure they have the peaceful, resource-rich habitats they need.
