With 3,500 individuals left in the wild, the Wild Water Bufallo is listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. The species is found across central and north east India, Nepal and Bhutan and down to south east Asia. 90% of the population is found in the Indian state of Assam.
Major threats include interbreeding with feral and domestic water buffaloes in and around protected areas. This catalyzes the transmission of diseases from livestock. Hunting is also a major threat, especially in Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Like many species, habitat loss is a massive threat with the conversion of floodplain areas to agriculture and hydropower dams. Additionally, wetlands are being degraded by invasive species such as liana and stem twiners.