Flood displaces hundreds of animals in Kaziranga park

Sushanta Talukdar

Brahmaputra flood waters submerge about 80 per cent of the park area in Assam
Guwahati: Hundreds of animals in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam were displaced after flood waters of the Brahmaputra submerged about 80 per cent of the park area. A number of animals were run over by speeding vehicles when they were crossing the national highway to safer places, while several were drowned. The park authorities have rescued several animals from drowning.

The flood situation in the Pobitora National Park in central Assam’s Morigaon district remained critical. The entire park area and the road leading to it remain submerged since July 23. The park is the only rhinoceros habitat in the world, with the highest concentration of one-horned rhinoceros. The animals have taken shelter on the three highlands. The authorities rescued two rhinoceros calves on Thursday. Three wild boar calves drowned.

Seven deer killed

Divisional Forest Officer (Kaziranga) Bankim Sarma told The Hindu that seven hog deer had been killed by speeding vehicles. A rhino, a swamp deer, three hog deer and three wild boar were reported to have been drowned till Friday.

The park authorities rescued 17 flood-hit and distressed hog deer and they were being treated at the Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.

He said 885 hog deer, 112 elephants and 50 wild buffaloes crossed over to the National Highway No, 37, which passes through the park area to the highlands of Karbi Anglong on the southern side. The highway touches the park over a stretch of 30 km.

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