The devastating floods in Assam have led to the death of 159 wild animals, including nine rhinos, in Kaziranga National Park, as reported by the park authorities on Wednesday.
Sonali Ghosh, the Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, detailed the impact of the floods on the wildlife. “So far, 159 wild animals have perished due to the flooding,” she stated. The casualties include 128 hog deer, nine rhinos, two swamp deer, and two sambar deer, which drowned in the floodwaters. Additionally, 12 hog deer, one swamp deer, a rhesus macaque, and an otter pup died while under care. Tragically, two hog deer were hit by vehicles, and another otter pup succumbed due to other causes.
Despite the grim toll, there have been significant rescue efforts. The park authority and the forest department have successfully rescued 133 animals during the floods, of which 111 have been treated and released back into the wild. “Seven rescued animals, including two rhino calves and two elephant calves, are currently undergoing treatment,” Ghosh added.
The flood situation in the park is showing signs of marginal improvement; however, 62 forest camps remain submerged, and four camps have been vacated. The park hosts 233 forest camps in total.
Kaziranga National Park spans a core area of 430 square kilometers, with recent expansions increasing its territory. The park is renowned for being home to over 2,600 one-horned rhinoceroses.
The broader flood situation in Assam has deteriorated, claiming seven lives in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 79 for the year. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority’s latest report indicates that over 17.17 lakh people across 26 districts are currently affected by the floods.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire & Emergency Services, and local administration working tirelessly in the flood-hit regions.
