Beels run dry in Kaziranga

JORHAT, April 20: The influence of the Brahmaputra on the Kaziranga National Park is all-pervading. Apart from inundating the park during the monsoon, the river spells misery for wildlife by spewing loads of sand during the dry season. Siltation due to recurrence of floods has made the ecologically-sensitive beels (natural water reserves) inside the park shallow. This has threatened big animals like elephants and rhinos, who often wallow in the beels, especially to cool off in summer. The beels are also the main source of drinking water for the animals. "Siltation from the Brahmaputra is affecting wildlife here," a park official told The Telegraph. The 430 sq km park, the oldest in Assam, is home to the one-horned rhino, besides a large population of Asiatic elephant, Indian bison, several species of deer, Hoolock Gibbon and birds among others. There are reports of animals deserting the park in search of beels, especially during the dry season. Several such beels have dried up. Some beels are known to house the unique stagnant-water dolphin. "Nowhere else in the world can you find the stagnant-water dolphin," the official said. Stagnant-water dolphins have even started to breed at the Mihi beel, he said. Even migratory birds, who arrive during the winters, are being threatened as the beels provide a roosting place to the avians, the official added. Alarmed at the development, authorities have undertaken dredging of some beels with funds from the Centre. "Dredging has been completed in two beels. We will take up more operations soon," he said. According to the official, the dredging had a dual purpose. "The soil thus excavated would be used in constructing highlands to shelter animals during the floods," he said. Animals often escape to the nearby Karbi Anglong hills to escape the floods. Most of the animals become easy prey to poachers during the floods. "If these beels dry up, animals would migrate to the nearby hills also in the dry season, thus becoming prey to poachers," the official said.