Addressing Wildlife Emergencies During Disasters in the Brahmaputra Valley

Chrysalis conducted an independent impact assessment of the Addressing Wildlife Emergencies During Disasters in the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam initiative to evaluate its contribution towards strengthening wildlife rescue systems, improving emergency response mechanisms, enhancing institutional coordination, and promoting safer community behaviour during disaster and conflict situations.

The assessment examined both demand-side and supply-side dimensions of the wildlife emergency ecosystem, including community awareness and reporting behaviour, volunteer preparedness, rescue operations, clinical readiness of rescue centres, rehabilitation outcomes, and multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms.

Using a mixed-methods research design, Chrysalis combined quantitative surveys, qualitative assessments, rescue MIS analysis, facility observations, stakeholder consultations, and secondary research to understand project outcomes and long-term sustainability. The study engaged volunteers, Primary Response Team members, community institutions, tea estate stakeholders, Forest Department officials, veterinary professionals, and implementation teams to assess changes in response behaviour, institutional effectiveness, rescue outcomes, and preparedness systems.

The assessment incorporated the OECD-DAC Evaluation Framework to evaluate project relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, impact, and sustainability. Chrysalis also conducted a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis to estimate the socio-economic value generated through improved wildlife rescue outcomes, community preparedness, institutional strengthening, and disaster response systems. Project outcomes were mapped against relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health and well-being, sustainable communities, climate action, and life on land. The study further assessed alignment with national priorities on disaster risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, wildlife protection, and emergency response management.

The assessment demonstrated significant improvements in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation outcomes, with 1,681 wildlife rescue cases recorded during the assessment period and increasing release rates over time. The study found strong evidence of improved community reporting behaviour, enhanced volunteer preparedness, safer incident management practices, and strengthened coordination between communities, the Forest Department, and Wildlife Trust of India. Facility assessments highlighted the critical role of rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure in improving survival outcomes, while stakeholder consultations revealed growing trust in formal emergency response systems and greater adoption of safe wildlife handling practices. The engagement also included an SROI assessment, which estimated that every rupee invested generated approximately 4.10 in socio-economic value, reflecting the project's contribution to biodiversity conservation, disaster preparedness, institutional capacity, and community resilience.