GUWAHATI: At least 39 wild animals including five one-horned rhinos, have perished because of the current wave of flood that has inundated about 90% area in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to sources in the National Park.
As many as 169 anti-poaching camps (APCs) out of the total 199 camps in the national park are still under water while rest 22 camps have been shifted.
Among the wild animals, four rhinos, seven hog deer, three wild boars, one elephant and one sambar were drowned in flood waters in the park.
Ten hog deer and one sambar died after they were hit by speeding vehicles on NH 37 (new NH715) which shirts the park on its southern fringe. The flood-hit wild animals were forced to cross the road to seek shelter in the neighbouring hill areas in Karbi Anglong district to the south of the park.
According to the park authority, one rhino and eight hog deer died of ‘other reasons’ in the national park during the current wave of floods.
The forest officials, CWRC and the locals have rescued 52 wild animals including two rhino calves, 44 hog deer, one baby elephant, one swamp deer, one sambar and three other animals from the park and adjoining areas.
Till date 44 flood-hit wild animals were rescued by forest officials, CWRC staff and locals in the National Park while 36 animals were released after treatment by forest officials, CWRC staff and locals.
Out of the 22 anti-poaching camps which have to be shifted because of the flood, three are in Eastern Range (Agoratoli), six in Central Range (Kohora), three in Western Range (Bagori), three under Bokakhat Beat office (Bokakhat) and seven in Bishwanath Wildlife Division under the National Park.