Every monsoon, Assam’s vibrant landscapes transform into a watery chaos, courtesy of the annual floods. This year, the deluge has been particularly merciless, impacting over 21 lakh people and displacing over 14 lakh animals. But let’s talk about the real underdogs—or should I say, under-rhinos—of this saga: the animals of Kaziranga National Park.
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Visuals circulating on social media show the park's inhabitants—rhinos, deer, elephants, otters—battling to stay afloat in the rising waters. It's like a tragic sequel to Noah's Ark, minus the ark. According to a report from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on July 4, 31 animals have died from drowning, and 82 have been rescued. Kaziranga is not just a park; it’s a wildlife Eden now grappling with nature’s wrath.
Imagine this, a Royal Bengal Tiger, usually the epitome of jungle royalty, tiptoeing into Juria village in Nagaon searching for food. Instead of a grand reception, it’s met with terrified humans brandishing anything they can find. Not exactly the regal welcome one would expect. Deer, in their desperate quest for sustenance, wander into human territory, only to become their food rather than curious guests.
Kaziranga’s animals are facing a grim reality. With the park 70-80% submerged, many have taken refuge on the few available highlands, while others risk busy highways to find shelter among humans. It's a desperate game of survival, with many animals ending up as tragic statistics.
Out of Kaziranga National Park’s 233 forest camps, 159 are underwater and eight have been vacated, as per July 2 report. In the grand showdown of Nature vs. Humans, it seems we’ve brought a spoon to a sword fight. With our meagre resources, we can only hope Mother Nature takes pity on us and decides to throw us a lifeline—or at least a life jacket—to save as many of her creatures as possible.
Highlands within wildlife parks are not a novel concept. Countries facing recurrent floods have long implemented this strategy. Yet, Kaziranga, despite its annual water woes, has only a handful of these life-saving sanctuaries. For the thousands of animals calling Kaziranga home, these highlands are woefully insufficient.
The forest department and wildlife rescuers are doing their best, but let's face it, they’re outnumbered and outmatched by the sheer scale of this natural disaster. It’s like trying to bail out a sinking ship with a teaspoon. What we need is a proactive, large-scale intervention—better flood management and increased resources for rescue operations.
In addition to the staggering impact on wildlife, the floods in Assam have left a profound human toll. Over 21 lakh people have been affected, and tragically, more than 50 lives have been lost. Amidst this devastation, 98 animals, including 36 large and 62 small species, have been washed away, adding to the heartbreak.
As we reflect on these grim numbers, it's clear that the annual floods in Assam are not just a natural phenomenon but a humanitarian and ecological crisis. The images of struggling animals and displaced villagers paint a poignant picture of resilience against nature's relentless onslaught.
Kaziranga’s animals don’t have a voice, but we do. Let’s use it to ensure that next monsoon, they aren’t left clinging to whatever dry land they can find, but instead, can ride out the storm safely. Because, at the end of the day, they’re not just part of our ecosystem—they’re a part of our world, and it's high time we started acting like it.
(The author is the IGP (STF & Admin), Assam. All views and opinions expressed in the article are the author’s own)
