Identification of flood-prone areas in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India

Flooding poses a significant challenge in arid and semi-arid regions, where unexpected rainfall can cause catastrophic consequences. Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assam, faces annual floods threatening its rich biodiversity, particularly the iconic one-horned rhinoceroses. Therefore, assessing flood risk in this region to save the animals is of utmost importance. This study assessed flood-prone zones in Kaziranga for 2015 and 2019 using GIS-based multi-criteria analysis. Factors like flow accumulation, slope, soil type, land use, rainfall intensity and elevation were integrated to map flood risk areas. The results indicated that the northeastern parts of the park had the highest flood vulnerability, with flood risk significantly increasing in 2019 compared to 2015. High and very high flood-prone areas covered 36.83% and 31.26% of the study area in 2019. Rainfall and soil type were the most influential factors, with clayey soils on the northern side near the Brahmaputra River intensifying runoff, while sandy soils in the southern region reduced flood risk due to higher infiltration. The study highlights the need for strategic flood mitigation measures to protect the park's wildlife. These findings offer valuable insights for conservation planning, aiding authorities in minimizing flood impacts and safeguarding Kaziranga's unique ecosystem.