Assam: 187 wild animals including 16 rhinos die in Kaziranga flood

The forest guards and locals have found more bodies of the wild animals died in the park during the deluge.

According to the Kaziranga National Park authority, 187 wild animals including 16 rhinos have died in the park during the flood so far.

Among the wild animals, 15 rhinos, 103 hog deer, 13 wild boar, 12 sambar, one elephant, six swamp deer, two water buffalo, three porcupine were drowned in flood waters in the park.

On the other hand, 15 hog deer and 1 sambar were died in vehicle hit, while the wild animals have been forced to move to neighbouring hill areas in Karbi Anglong district following the flood.

According to the park authority, one rhino and 10 hog deer were died in other reasons in the national park during the current flood.

The forest department, CWRC and the locals have rescued 64 wild animals including two rhino calves, 53 hog deer, one baby elephant, two swamp deer, one sambar and five other animals from the park and adjoining areas.

The flood situation in the park has gradually improved but 27 forest camps in the national park are still under water.

Assam governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi and state forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya on Sunday had visited the park and took stock the situation.

Over 95 per cent areas of the world heritage site have been submerged by the flood waters in which the wild animals have been forced to move the neighbouring hill areas of Karbi Anglong district by crossing the Asian Highway – 1and adjoining areas of the park.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)