ORDER ARTIODACTYLA: EVEN-TOED UNGULATES 541 



J. W. Nicholson, Conservator of Forests, reports (in litt., Decem- 

 ber 23, 1936) for Orissa: "Rare probably owing to lack of natural 

 habitats suitable to their existence. Buffalo used to exist in Sam- 

 balpur district but they were exterminated and the only known 

 surviving herds in Orissa are one or two in Patna State. I heard a 

 few months ago that some have since returned to the West of Sam- 

 balpur district but I have not been able to confirm the statement. 

 Otherwise there are no buffaloes within British Orissa." This report 

 is supplemented by A. F. W. Dixon (in litt., January 23, 1937) : 

 "I am to add that a few buffaloes are to be found in the Malkangiri 

 Taluk of Koraput District (Jeypore Estate)." 



The Government of Bihar reports (in litt., December, 1936) : 

 "Is now extinct in Bihar, except for a herd in North Bhagalpur, 

 which is however believed (o be descended from domesticated 

 animals. Was formerly found in Singhbhum, but has not been 

 known there for 60 years or more." 



The Buffalo's status in Bengal is summarized by the Senior Con- 

 servator of Forests (in litt., September, 1937) : "Former range: 

 Jalpaiguri Forests (common) and Buxa Forests (no information). 

 Present range: Torsa forests of the Jalpaiguri Division (still found) 

 and Buxa forests (20). Causes of depletion: poaching and rinder- 

 pest infection from cattle. A game sanctuary to the extent of 26 

 sq. miles is being maintained in the Buxa Forests; grazing of 

 domestic cattle has been prohibited." 



There seems to be some question as to whether the Buffaloes of 

 Ceylon are truly wild or merely feral descendants of introduced 

 domesticated animals. Blanford (1891, p. 492) speaks of them as 

 wild and abundant in northern Ceylon, and Lydekker also (1913, 

 vol. 1, p. 43) refers to them as wild. A divergent view is expressed 

 in the following account received from the Ceylon Game and Fauna 

 Protection Society (in litt. } October, 1936) : 



"Wild Buffaloes are still very plentiful in certain areas of the 

 lowlands. In the Yala Sanctuary and surrounding reserves, they 

 are very numerous, and may be seen in large herds at any time. 

 In the Wilpattu Sanctuary, in the northwest, and the Veddichchai 

 reserve, in the northeast, a few herds are still to be found and 

 there are also herds in some of the most remote jungle tracts in 

 other parts of the lowlands. In all probability, the Wild Buffalo 

 in Ceylon is the descendant of imported stock that has escaped to 

 the jungles. Many wild Buffaloes are noosed annually and the 

 young ones tamed for domestic purposes and a few of the larger 

 bulls are shot by sportsmen. In the sanctuaries, the Buffalo receives 

 the same absolute protection that is given to all other animals and 

 in the reserves and outside, a Rs/20/-licence is required before one 

 can be shot. It is, therefore, adequately protected in Ceylon and 



