Floods: Kaziranga loses 200 animals

Bijay Sankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, August 18

Even as the year’s second wave of flood has so far taken 60 human lives besides affecting over 25 lakh people in 20 districts of Assam, it has taken a heavy toll on the animal population in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP).

Officials in the KNP, known as the abode of one-horned rhinoceros, said the second wave of flood since August 10 has resulted in the death of 115 animals, including 99 hog deer, six rhinos, two elephants, three wild boars, two swamp deer, one Asiatic buffalo, one porcupine and a sambar.

The authorities fear more carcasses are likely to be recovered once the floodwater recedes. Two hog deer have also been killed after being hit by vehicles on the national highway on the southern fringe of the park.

The total fatalities in the KNP so far this year has crossed 200, with 107 animals, including seven rhinos, being killed in the first wave of flood. The park staff in coordination with NGOs have so far rescued 48 flood-hit animals, including seven rhino calves and 41 hog deer.

The flood has caused extensive damage to the motorable tracks and bridges inside the park where about 100 anti-poaching camps of the total 178 are still under water. An estimated Rs 7.35 crore worth of infrastructure has been damaged in the floods.