A total of 24 wild animals have been reported dead in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve due to floods and other reasons.
The park authority said while the flood situation in the national park has gradually improved, at least 30 per cent of areas of the park are still underwater. 21 out of 223 anti-poaching camps in the park are currently submerged, the official said.
“Out of 24 animals, six animals including a rhino, three hog deer, one wild buffalo, one swamp deer drowned in flood waters in the park. Apart from it, 11 animals including nine hog deer, one python and one cap langur died in a vehicle hit on National Highway 37 which is passing through the national park,” an official of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve said.
“Three animals, including two hog deer and one swamp deer, died due to other reasons during the flood,” the official said.
The official further said that four animals, including a rhino and three hog deer, died due to natural causes.
During the flood, the park authority and the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve have rescued four animals, including a rhino calf and three hog deer.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), nearly 48,000 people in Golaghat district, 46,000 people in Darrang, 16,000 people in Morigaon, 3500 people in Nagaon, 2400 people in Barpeta district are still affected by the current spate of flood.
At least 646 villages under 35 revenue circles were reeling under water and seven people drowned in flood waters, ASDMA said.