GUWAHATI, April 30 - Conservationists fear that the undue emphasis on construction of artificial highlands inside Kaziranga National Park for �protecting� wildlife during the annual floods could cause irreparable damage to its wetlands.
The Kaziranga landscape is dominated by vast stretches of wetlands, including swamps, marshes and other low-lying water-bodies that have evolved over the centuries and which are intrinsically linked to its teeming biodiversity.
Worryingly, the wetland network inside Kaziranga has already been adversely affected due to siltation, which in turn is eroding their water retention capacity. The spurt in construction of massive artificial highlands is bound to worsen the problem.
�Well-being of the wetlands is critical to the survival of many species, including the rhino, its flagship species, as these animals are entirely dependent on the wetland ecosystem for their existence. Of late we have seen siltation affecting the wetlands. It�s certain that the artificial highlands would hasten the degradation process further,� a forest official with years of experience in Kaziranga told The Assam Tribune.
The official, who wished anonymity, said that a huge highland was being constructed right in the middle of a low-lying area � a prime rhino location � near the Borbeel wetland in Bagori range.
�On any day, one can see around a hundred rhinos grazing in that area which is out of bound for tourists. That happens to be a prime rhino habitat. It�s shocking that such a destructive intervention in the form of the highland has been made in the area. This will destroy the wetland and the rhino habitat,� he said.
The official said that instead of erecting any more new highland, the prudent course of action would have been to strengthen the existing ones. �Kaziranga�s wildlife has lived with floods. The rhinos start migrating east-west within Kaziranga during May-June before moving up to the Karbi Anglong highlands,� he said.
Significantly, the Kaziranga wetlands also form a major breeding ground for almost all major fish species in the State. In fact, it can be termed as the biggest source for the local fish found in the State. The breeding season sees the fish disperse through the Brahmaputra and swarm the whole of Kaziranga during floods.
Conservationists also point out that the damage to wildlife during floods is mostly manmade, with many animals getting killed while crossing the NH-37 in their bid to reach the Karbi Anglong hills on the other side.
�Flood-induced deaths of animals are to be regarded as natural fatalities, which is essential to maintain a balance of wildlife populations. In any case, Kaziranga�s wildlife has endured floods for centuries and is still flourishing. Siltation from the artificial highlands will naturally affect the wetlands,� Dr Bibhab Talukdar of Aaranyak said, adding that the need of the hour was to protect the forested highlands of Karbi Anglong which had been used for centuries by Kaziranga�s wildlife to take shelter, especially during the floods.