Spirituality, conservation, and crocodiles – Madhya Pradesh CM’s ambitious plans

The release marks the latest phase in what has emerged as one of India’s most ambitious and contentious state-level wildlife restoration programmes, driven by the Chief Minister.

Since taking office in 2023, Yadav has not only focused on tigers and cheetahs, but has laid emphasis on the reintroduction of king cobras, crocodiles and even floated plans to introduce Assamese rhinos.

‘Proven model’

The release of the crocodiles into the Narmada builds on what the administration considers a proven model. In February 2025, Yadav released 10 crocodiles in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, which houses over 80% of India’s gharial population.

Forest officials say the Narmada’s water currents and ecosystem mirror Chambal’s favourable conditions. An official said the presence of crocodiles would help maintain balanced aquatic ecosystems and strengthen the natural food chain — the ecological rationale underpinning the release of the six rescued crocodiles into the backwaters of the Indira Sagar Dam.

Other animals

Personally driving efforts to reintroduce king cobras to the state, Yadav in May released a male king cobra at Indore’s Kamala Nehru Zoological Museum, brought from Karnataka to join a female already housed there.

At September’s State Wildlife Board meeting, the Chief Minister specifically mentioned efforts to bring the Indian one-horned rhinoceros from Assam while discussing plans to transfer three pairs of tigers to Odisha, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. He insisted that “while tigers will be sent to neighbouring states, Madhya Pradesh should also receive wild animal species from them in exchange to further enrich the state’s biodiversity”.

During an October visit to Kaziranga National Park, Yadav praised Assam’s conservation of over 3,000 rhinos. Speaking to investors in Guwahati, he outlined potential exchanges — Madhya Pradesh could provide bison, gharials, and crocodiles to Assam in return for rhinoceroses.

He also directed preparations for the release of aquatic animals — turtles, gharials, and dolphins — into the state’s rivers, alongside plans to develop wildlife rescue centres in Ujjain and Jabalpur.

A senior government official said that Yadav has actively spent his energies on expanding the populations of various different animals. “The Chief Minister has personally overseen conservation programmes. The king cobra and crocodiles have religious significance as well… He has also established two new tiger reserves — Ratapani and Madhav — and launched other species-specific programmes, such as the vulture census,” the official said.

“The vision is to make Madhya Pradesh viable for tourism and introduce as much diverse wildlife as possible, which is why there are discussions to introduce rhinos and other animals. There is a list of wild animals that are under consideration for introduction, and the wildlife department is studying to see which of them are viable to be introduced in our ecosystem,” a senior wildlife official said.