Pobitora’s Tamulidubha Beel: The Rapid Decline Of Its Wetland Ecosystem

• Image Credit: Google

• Jan 9, 2025 | admin

Digital Desk: Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the heart of the Morigaon district of Assam is a significant wildlife reserve. This Sanctuary is a paradise for ornithologists, introducing over 200 species of migratory and resident birds. Its wetlands like the Tamulidubha Beel during winters become a hotspot for migratory birds. It is part of the Important Bird Area (IBA) network, making it crucial for avian or birdly conservation.

The heart of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary’s ecotourism is the Tamulidubha Beel which has a vast area of water during the monsoon and reflects the beauty of a marine. This attracts innumerable visitors who come to witness its affluent diverseness. It becomes a lively spot during winter as it is brimming with migratory birds like strokes, pelicans, and ducks, creating a phenomenon that draws photographers and bird lovers from around the world.

Tamulidubha Beel’s water level has bizarrely decreased and caused concern among nature  lovers, environmentalists, and locals. Once an extensive water body and an essential habitat for the sanctuary’s wildlife, a vast portion of this Beel now favors parched land. This frightening alteration pressurizes its role as a seasonal haven for thousands of migratory birds, both
international and local, who fly here during winter. However, the early decrease in water level is forcing migratory birds to evacuate earlier than normal, cutting short their stay and reducing the sanctuary’s beauty.

This environmental crisis is due to the immoderate sedimentation caused by the years of flooding during monsoon seasons. With the rapid gathering of sediment, the depth of the Beel has significantly diminished, leading to faster drying during the dry seasons. Besides irregular rainfall motifs and continuous drought-like conditions have intensified the situation. The crack and barren soil control the topography and evacuate the sanctuary’s wildlife endangered.

Wildlife conservationists, nature lovers, environmentalists, and the local communities are afraid of the rapid changes in Tamulidubha Beel’s ecosystem. Due to sedimentation and changing climate patterns, the Beel poses a significant threat to the sanctuary’s ecological balance and in this way, the future of this Beel as a wildlife hotspot and a tourist destination looks exposed.