In the fields of Ranthbhanwar village, Shajapur district, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav stood alongside forest officers and district administrators on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, watching the second phase of a blackbuck relocation campaign unfold — a hands-on signal that the state's wildlife protection agenda is moving from policy to practice.

What the 'Boma Method' rescue operation looks like on the ground

The centrepiece of the drive is the Boma method — a traditional, low-stress wildlife capture technique in which a funnel-shaped enclosure of netting or fencing gradually guides animals toward a holding pen without tranquillisers or physical pursuit. Forest teams have adapted this approach to move blackbucks (krishnamrig) from areas of human-wildlife conflict to safer habitats. CM Yadav observed the rescue work directly, taking stock of how the enclosures were set up and how the animals were being handled.

During the visit, Dr. Yadav held a detailed briefing with Forest Department and administrative officers, reviewing the campaign's progress and the logistical arrangements in place for the second phase. The Chief Minister's Office confirmed that the CM sought updates on both the pace of rescues and the welfare conditions for the animals during transit and resettlement.

Blackbucks and Shajapur: a recurring flash point

The blackbuck — India's State Animal of several states and a Schedule I protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 — has historically roamed the open grasslands of central Madhya Pradesh, including the Malwa plateau region where Shajapur sits. As agricultural land expands, blackbuck herds frequently stray into crop fields, triggering conflict with farmers who see the animals as a threat to their livelihoods. Relocation drives attempt to resolve this tension without harm to either side — moving herds to protected zones or wildlife sanctuaries while compensating affected farmers.

A campaign of this scale — running to at least a second phase — indicates a sustained state effort rather than a one-off response, with forest machinery and district administration coordinating over multiple days and sites.

A Chief Minister in the field

Dr. Yadav's personal visit to a rural village to inspect a wildlife rescue is a deliberate optic: it frames conservation not as a bureaucratic formality but as a political priority. It also sends a message down the administrative chain — when the CM shows up to ask officers about 'progress and arrangements,' attention sharpens. Whether this translates into a faster, safer relocation for the blackbuck herds of Shajapur will be visible in the campaign's final numbers.