Wild Animals At Kaziranga Bear The Brunt Of Floods

GUWAHATI, (IANS) – The ongoing floods in Assam have claimed the lives of over 200 wild animals, including 10 rhinos at the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve despite the authorities taking multi-pronged measures to save the lives of animals.

According to authorities, flood intensity this year was the highest in the last 10 years in terms of area inundation and depth of the flood water. Kaziranga has witnessed all-time high floods this year.

While flood waters have receded now, the wild animals continue to migrate and cross between Kaziranga and the Karbi Anglong hills.Forest and wildlife officials have so far rescued 143 wild animals.

The wildlife casualty this year includes 167 hog deer, 10 rhinos, two swamp deer, and two sambars. Fourteen wild animals including 10 hog deer died during treatment.

The park has 150 man-made, scientifically designed highlands for housing animals during floods.

Besides wild animals, lakhs of domestic animals also bear the brunt of floods each year in Assam. Over 15.28 lakh animals were affected during the peak of the flooding till July 5, which also affected 24.20 lakh people in 30 of Assam’s 35 districts.

aThe Kaziranga national park is home to more than 2,600 rhinos, Royal Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, wild buffalos, and thousands of birds of over 125 species, among others.