The Asian wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is an endangered wild cattle restricted in its distribution to southern Nepal, eastern and central India, southern Bhutan and western Thailand. 

The wild buffalo was once widely distributed over the tracts of tall grasslands and riverine forests in India and Nepal. 

Present distribution 

In India, the wild buffaloes are found in Assam and Chhattisgarh. Occasional sightings of the animal – called the Asiatic Water Buffalo – have also been reported from Meghalaya and Maharashtra.

The Kaziranga National Park in Assam, the Udanti-Sitanadi and Indravati tiger reserves are main habitats in Chhattisgarh, while some animals move in the Maharashtra area adjoining to Indravati TR. 

The Asian Wild Buffalo is an endangered species as per the criteria of IUCN. It is enlisted in Appendix III of CITES and in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Wild buffalo is the third largest land mammal in India, after the Elephant and Rhino it carries the largest horns among the surviving animals of the world today. The wild buffalo was declared as State Animal of Chhattisgarh in 2001.