MP CM Mohan Yadav inspects blackbuck rescue drive in Shajapur, 1,236 animals captured
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh is running what its Chief Minister Mohan Yadav calls South Asia's first helicopter-assisted blackbuck rescue using the boma method — with an African expert team, 11 transport trucks, and 1,236 animals already captured. The operation reframes a familiar wildlife-versus-farming conflict as a joint conservation and agricultural welfare win.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Yadav inspected the second phase of the blackbuck rescue drive in Shajapur district on 28 October 2026 .
1,236 blackbucks have been captured so far using the boma method , with assistance from a specialised team brought from Africa .
A helicopter and 11 trucks with veterinary doctors are deployed for capture and transport.
Animals will be relocated to Sheopur , Gandhi Sagar , and Rani Durgavati reserve forest .
The government claims this is the first helicopter-assisted boma operation in South Asia .
The drive is part of MP's 'Year of Farmer Welfare 2026' agenda, addressing crop damage from wild animals.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday, 28 October 2026, visited Ranthambhawar village in Shajapur district to review the second phase of a large-scale blackbuck rescue and relocation operation — an initiative the state government says is designed to protect both wildlife and farmers' livelihoods.
Scale of the Operation
So far, 1,236 blackbucks have been captured under the drive, which employs the boma method — a technique in which animals are systematically guided into enclosed areas for safe capture. A helicopter is being used to assist in the herding process, and a special expert team brought from Africa is supporting the effort, according to officials.
Chief Minister Yadav said 11 trucks have been arranged for transporting the animals, accompanied by veterinary doctors and all necessary equipment to ensure safe transit. The captured blackbucks are to be released across designated forest zones, including Sheopur, Gandhi Sagar, and the Rani Durgavati reserve forest.
A First in South Asia, the Government Claims
Yadav described the operation as a landmark conservation effort, asserting that helicopter-assisted wildlife rescue using the boma method is being undertaken for the first time in South Asia. 'Our objective is to ensure the safety of wildlife as well as protect farmers' crops. Special care is being taken to capture the blackbucks safely and ensure that no animal suffers any injury,' he told reporters during the visit.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would serve as a replicable model. 'I am confident that the success of this project will encourage several other states in the country and even other countries to adopt this method,' Yadav said, commending the forest department team.
Farmer Welfare at the Core
The relocation campaign is being carried out under the Madhya Pradesh government's broader agenda of designating 2026 as the 'Year of Farmer Welfare'. Crop depredation by wild animals — particularly blackbucks and nilgai — has been a persistent concern for farming communities across the state's agricultural belt.
This comes amid longstanding tension between wildlife conservation goals and agrarian interests in central India, where expanding blackbuck populations have frequently come into conflict with cultivated land. The forest department and district administration reviewed arrangements at the site alongside the Chief Minister.
What Happens Next
The rescued blackbucks will be relocated progressively to the identified forest reserves. Officials said logistics for safe onward transport are in place, with veterinary oversight maintained throughout. The government said the operation also aligns with its broader goals of employment generation for youth and conservation of natural ecosystems. Yadav highlighted that the initiative reflects a model where wildlife management and farmer welfare are treated as complementary rather than competing priorities.
Point of View
And the long-term success of this initiative will depend on whether the destination forest reserves — Sheopur, Gandhi Sagar, Rani Durgavati — have the carrying capacity and prey base to sustain a large influx of blackbucks. Relocating animals without adequate habitat assessment has historically led to stress mortality and re-dispersal. The political framing under the 'Year of Farmer Welfare' is smart, but the ecological rigour of the plan warrants scrutiny beyond the optics of a CM-led inspection.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the blackbuck rescue operation in Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh?
It is a large-scale wildlife relocation drive in Shajapur district, now in its second phase, in which blackbucks are being captured using the boma method and transported to designated forest reserves. The operation involves a helicopter, an expert team from Africa, and 11 trucks with veterinary support.
How many blackbucks have been captured so far?
According to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, around 1,236 blackbucks had been captured as of 28 October 2026. They are to be released in forest areas including Sheopur, Gandhi Sagar, and Rani Durgavati reserve forest.
What is the boma method used in the blackbuck operation?
The boma method involves guiding animals into enclosed structures for safe capture, minimising stress and injury. In the Shajapur operation, a helicopter is being used to herd the animals into the bomas, with an African specialist team assisting on the ground.
Why is Madhya Pradesh relocating blackbucks?
The relocation aims to reduce crop damage caused by blackbucks and nilgai in agricultural areas, while ensuring the animals are moved to suitable forest habitats. It is part of the state's 2026 'Year of Farmer Welfare' agenda.
Is this operation a first of its kind?
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has claimed that helicopter-assisted wildlife rescue using the boma method is being undertaken for the first time in South Asia. The claim has not been independently verified, but officials say its success could encourage other states and countries to adopt the model.
