As Beas overflows, wildlife department ensures safety of aquatic species

In wake of the excess water being released from the dams resulting in flooding in Beas, the Punjab Wildlife Department has been trying its best to save and keep a track of the aquatic wildlife in the region. Officials are on their toes to rescue and keep strict vigil on the rarest mammals that risk being swept into Pakistan, where the chances of their survival are almost negligible.

The flooding of Beas has thrown challenges to the Punjab Wildlife Department, which is now deploying boats, night vision cameras and binoculars while camping in and around the swelled up Beas.

“Precautions are taken every monsoon season, but this year has been particularly tough. Floodwaters destroy terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Excess silt from the hills threaten species under water and affect breeding grounds,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dharminder Sharma.

“We have alerted the field officials, and necessary steps are being taken”, he said.

Beas—the only living river that supports quality aquatic wildlife has recorded the presence of dolphins and gharials. The presence of dolphins is an indication of the health of the Beas ecosystem which is also home to other rare species like the fishing cat and the smooth-coated Indian otter.

The river is also home to over 500 species of birds and more than 90 kinds of fish. In 2018, gharials, a fish-eating crocodile that had become locally extinct, were added to this river ecosystem and they have adapted pretty well. Other fishes like Common Carp, Rohu, Catla, Mrigal, Catfish, Singari, Gosh, Bam, Chital, Bata and Sol, in addition to migratory birds during winter.

According to the latest census conducted by the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-India from March to April 2025, 37 gharials had been sighted across 22 distinct locations in the Beas. These are now sub-adults and will lay eggs in some years, further adding to their numbers.

“The concern about the rise in flash floods is no doubt worrying. Our teams have been stationed along the 185-km stretch of the Beas Conservation Reserve and nearby habitats used by this aquatic wildlife. The teams will rescue animals caught in the floodwaters and take them to safer areas,” said Wildlife Ranger at Harike, Kamaljit Singh.