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his year’s floods unfolded differently from the previous disasters. These were marked by a sudden and faster escalation, record-breaking rainfall and a stronger imprint of climate change. The Punjab faced the heaviest blow, with approximately 5.1 million affected and 1.9 million evacuated. Sindh continues to struggle with expanding urban flooding. The drivers of these disasters were multiple and interlinked: intense short bursts of rain; accelerated glacial melt from the north; and large-scale dam releases that magnified downstream flooding. While earlier floods were catastrophic, this year’s event has been more complex in cause—swifter in onset and wider in reach—pushing millions into crisis across the Punjab and Sindh.
Beyond the human tragedy lies a quieter crisis for wildlife. Endangered species were swept away during the recent floods. The Punjab Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries Department has a newly formed wildlife force of 552 rangers, which—as a woman, I am extremely proud to mention, comprises 123 women—has been leading rescue efforts. This team of rangers has saved over 50 animals, including the hog deer, sambar deer, pangolins, blue bulls, pythons and other displaced animals. Some of these came through the transboundary waterflows from India. The team also rescued lions from private facilities near the Ravi, while they went beyond their mandate and rescued people. Many burrowing wildlife species such as snakes and small mammals, and feral dogs and cats remain unaccounted for, likely lost to the floods.
The Indus River dolphin faces particular peril, as rising waters drive them into irrigation canals where they get stranded as water levels drop. The Sindh Wildlife Department leads the rescue efforts for these stranded dolphins when the water recedes. We will know the exact numbers when the floods pass and the dry season begins. In 2010, eight dolphins were rescued from the water channels within the agricultural fields. Following the flood, 48 Indus River dolphin carcasses were found. This is a huge number considering that the entire population of the species is about 2,000. This should warn us that the impacts on wildlife often surface long after the floods subside, through habitat loss, and shifts in livelihoods such as increased reliance on fishing when crops and livestock are destroyed.
While climate change is making floods increasingly unpredictable and destructive, it is important to remember that natural flood cycles also play a vital role in renewal. Seasonal flooding recharges wetlands, sustains riverine forests and replenishes habitats for species such as hog deer, freshwater turtles and migratory waterfowl. Floodwater also brings nutrients to our mangroves and supports fisheries that many communities depend on. The real challenge is balancing risk with resilience.
While Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority has already projected a 22 percent higher rainfall in 2026, there is still time to act. Protecting floodplains and riverine forests from encroachment and restoring natural connections between rivers and their lakes are powerful, nature-based solutions that avoid the heavy costs of engineered flood defences. These natural buffers absorb shocks and store water for communities. At the same time, they provide lifelines for turtles, waterfowl and countless freshwater species.
Encroachments, whether through illegal settlements or sanctioned leases around wetlands and forests, urgently need to be rethought. Riverine forests are not empty lands; they are natural shields, buffering communities against flash floods and cloudbursts that are only intensifying under climate change. A strong example comes from China’s Yangtze River, home to the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise. By restoring the oxbow lakes, such as Poyang and Dongting Lakes, China created safe floodwater spillways that are now a thriving habitat. In a 2022 survey, the porpoise population stood at 1,249, with 492 in Poyang and 162 in Dongting. There are more porpoises in these two lakes combined than the Yangtze River mainstream. Depending on water levels, Poyang Lake expands from 500 to 4,000 square kilometres, illustrating how floodplain restoration can simultaneously protect people and revive ecosystems.
In urban areas, some of the rivers have been reduced to open drains, choked with untreated domestic sewage and industrial waste. In Karachi, the Lyari and Malir Rivers have carried the heaviest loads of rubbish in the recent floods. Instead of restoring these rivers, there is a perception that floods flush these ‘drains.’ Sadly, they are not even referred to as rivers any longer. Ironically, this ‘flushing’ carries solid waste and toxins near a marine protected area and pollutes the turtle nesting beaches. The turtle nesting season has already started and will peak in the coming months. We need efforts to urgently clean the beaches. Industrial effluents from the Korangi Industrial Area further pollute the outflow, turning seasonal floods into environmental hazards. The impact of pollutants is slow to develop and needs monitoring.
Equally important is tackling the cascading health risks: stagnant waters breed disease vectors; flood-borne pathogens can spread rapidly between livestock and wildlife; some deadly viruses and bacteria can survive better (for example, the anthrax bacterium can form spores and survive, while the foot and mouth virus can survive for weeks in water which provides a vehicle for local spread, especially if animals drink from or wade through a water body). Vigilant monitoring, vaccination programmes and cross-sector preparedness will be essential to protect both the people and ecosystems.
The writer has over 20 years of experience with the WWF. Her work bridges science, policy and practice in conservation. She leverages her field expertise across Asia to advise on strategic planning.