Kaziranga misses floods it needs as Assam battles deluge

Kaziranga National Park is facing an unusual ecological problem this year: the near absence of the seasonal floods it depends on, even as much of Assam battles destructive inundation. Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah flagged the concern on August 9, noting that without annual flooding, undesirable plants such as silk-cotton saplings and Mimosa pudica are booming in the park.

Forest officials said only four low-lying camps were under water in July, while the rest of the park remained dry. Kaziranga DFO Arun Vignesh explained that the park's unique ecosystem needs inundation and fresh alluvial deposits to remove invasive species like water hyacinth. Smaller wetlands are already being choked, which could reduce animal food sources.

Environmentalists note that manual removal of invasive plants across Kaziranga's vast area is not feasible. Former forest ranger Dharani Dhar Boro said floods replenish water bodies and support aquatic life. Officials emphasised they do not need severe floods, but adequate inundation for one to two days to flush weeds from grasslands and wetlands.