The northeastern state of Mizoram in India and some of its neighbors were devastated by a famine in 1911. Forty-eight years later, the same thing happened again in 1959. When it occurred yet again in 2007, it could no longer be chalked up to coincidence.
The Government of Mizoram has recorded famines occurring roughly 50 years apart in the state for over two centuries now, starting in 1815. The locals even have a word for this cyclical phenomenon—“mautam,” and it all begins with the blossoming of new bamboo.
Although most people imagine bamboo as towering, tree-like growths, it is actually a grass, albeit a massive one. It’s life cycle is remarkable and almost mystical.
According to an April 2020 study published in the journal, Frontiers in Plant Science, the flowering cycles of bamboo species can range from anywhere between 3 to 150 years. During the blooming stage, all plants of the same species blossom together, resulting in a mesmerizing explosion of bamboo flowers.
But, as you’ll find out, this synchronization is largely responsible for the recurring famines in northeastern India.
And this isn’t an isolated phenomenon unique to these parts either. From Hong Kong to South America, the blooming of some bamboo flowers heralds an overwhelming “rat flood” in its wake, followed by crop devastation, economic upheaval and famine.
How One Blossom Poses An Explosive Problem In Northeastern India
The mass blooming of bamboo is spectacular but rare, with cycles that last anywhere between 40 to 120 years. For example, in Mizoram, Melocanna baccifera, a widespread bamboo species known locally as “mautuk” (after which the phenomenon of mautam is named) flowers once every 48 to 50 years. When it does, millions of bamboo plants produce vast quantities of seeds at the same time.
These seeds, rich in nutrients, become an irresistible feast for the region’s black rat population (Rattus rattus), which rapidly proliferates under such favorable conditions.
Fueled by the abundant seed supply, the rats’ numbers surge to extraordinary levels. But as the seeds are eventually consumed, the rats’ desperation for food drives them beyond the forests and into human settlements. Fields of rice, maize, and other essential crops are soon ravaged by waves of hungry rodents, leading to widespread crop destruction. This invasion escalates to a full-blown agricultural crisis, bringing famine to affected regions.
As though this wasn’t already bad enough, Mizoram also has something called “thingtam,” which is the same idea as a mautam, except this time, there’s another bamboo species to blame—Bambusa tulda. This species has its own distinct flowering cycle, occurring roughly every 30 years.
In other regions with bamboo species like Arundinaria alpina in Ethiopia and Bambusa tulda in Japan, similar cycles of flowering, fruiting and die-off have been recorded, all accompanied by waves of rat infestations and subsequent ecological imbalances.
This Isn’t Your Average Rat Infestation—It’s A Rat Flood
With an abundance of bamboo seeds to feast upon, the rats descend in droves. In one case—recorded in a study published in Rodent Outbreaks: Ecology and Impacts—the rat flood consumed over 30% of the bamboo seeds in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
During these “masting” events, rat populations can increase exponentially, as the readily available food supply accelerates breeding rates and reduces natural controls like cannibalism. Populations of species such as Rattus rattus can soar, creating what locals call a “rat flood.”
But the impact doesn’t end in the forests. Once the bamboo seeds are exhausted, the rats—now numbering in the millions—begin migrating toward human settlements in search of new food sources. They invade crop fields and granaries, devouring everything in their path.
The ripple effects extend beyond mere crop loss. With the rodent population now exploding, the risk of rodent-borne diseases rises as well. In some cases, the infestation leads to outbreaks of illnesses like the bubonic plague and hantavirus, which can be transmitted from rats to humans.
The cycle of bamboo flowering, rat flooding and crop devastation disrupts the entire ecosystem, leaving farmers and villagers facing not just food scarcity, but also heightened health risks and financial ruin.
The Human Cost Of A Bamboo Blossom
Historical records and local proverbs bear testament to the deadly consequences of bamboo’s rare flowering. The Mizo people of northeastern India, who have endured this phenomenon for generations, have a saying: “When the bamboo flowers, death and destruction will follow.”
From India’s North East to Bangladesh and beyond, bamboo blossoms have almost always been followed by plagues or famines that severely affect the local population. In fact, the blossom in Mizoram in 1959 even resulted in a local uprising.
Other regions across Asia and beyond have experienced similar calamities. In Hong Kong, where Bambusa flexuosa and Bambusa chunii flower every 50 years, flowering events in the late 1800s coincided with a surge in bubonic plague cases. Observers noted a parallel rise in rat populations, suggesting that the bamboo bloom indirectly contributed to the spread of the disease.
While efforts have been made to mitigate the damage, including tracking bamboo flowering cycles and improving rat control measures, the phenomenon remains a potent and unpredictable force. For rural communities, especially those in bamboo-rich regions, the memory of these famines remains vivid—a reminder of the dangers behind what appears to be a simple plant life cycle.
While bamboo flowering is a marvel of evolutionary synchronization, its consequences reveal a complex web of interdependence and disruption, much like the cane toad overpopulation in Australia. The seeds that nourish rodent populations ultimately become the seeds of destruction for human communities, transforming bamboo forests from natural resources into sources of peril.
As scientists continue to study these cycles, understanding the dynamics of bamboo flowering and rodent population surges could help improve preparedness for future events. In the meantime, the people of northeastern India and other affected areas live with weight of the knowledge that one day, the bamboo will bloom again.
Events like the bamboo blossom show us the true scale of nature’s operations and where we fit in. How do you feel about the delicate relationship we share with nature? Find out where you stand on the Connectedness to Nature Scale
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