By Atul Mishra

KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE RESERVE, Nov 8 – The population of domesticated cattle in this reserve established with a view to protect the country’s last remaining herds of wild water buffalo is 136 times the population of wild water buffalo, reserve officials here say.

Established in 1976, this 175sq km reserve, encompassing several small islands formed along the floodplain of the mighty Koshi river has a total of 146 wild water buffalo, according to the Chief Conservation Officer Lal Bihari Yadav.

“Over 20,000 domestic cattle – most of which are stray cows and buffaloes abandoned by their owners – are residing inside the reserve,” he said. “The animals belong to both Nepali and Indian (Bihari) people.”

According to officials, the problem has existed before the reserve was established, and none of the efforts to oust these stray cattle have been fruitful. Yadav fears that the continuing cross-breeding between the wild and domestic water buffalo could destroy the gene of wild buffalo for once and all.

Sources in the reserve, meanwhile, say that the reserve officials, together with the Royal Nepal Army personnel – who are manning the reserve, are contemplating a shooting spree to eliminate the domestic animals.