Floods wreak havoc in Kaziranga National Park

Over 540 animals, including 13 rhinos, have perished in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam during the current wave of floods, perhaps the worst-ever to hit the park in recent history.

Hog deer are the worst hit with 465 of them succumbing to flood waters which have inundated nearly 80 per cent of the Park's area.

According to the latest official update, the other casualties include 10 swamp deer, 28 wild boars, five porcupine, 16 sambars and two each of python, wild buffalo and hog badgers.

The death toll was expected to rise further with the water level receding in the UNESCO World Heritage site. More carcasses are being recovered daily, Park Director Sanjib
Bora said today.

Speeding vehicles also claimed the lives of nearly25 hog deer while two rhinos were killed by poachers.

The Golaghat district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr P C along NH-37, which passes through the park. Barricades have been set up at regular intervals to prevent speeding, Golaghat Deputy Commissioner Sanjiv Gohain Boruah said.

Forest guards, along with the people living in the fringe villages and NGOs, have so far rescued 126 hog deer, two rhino calves, two elephant calves and four barking deer. The animals are being treated at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation, Bora said.

The devastating floods have caused extensive damage to roads, bridges and approaches to bridges though the actual extent of the damage was yet to be ascertained, he said.

The park has been flooded since June 26. Nearly 80 per cent of the sanctuary was inundated; only the natural and artificial highlands were spared.

The casualty of the hog deer was high primarily because they cannot survive in water and due to their small size, they find it difficult to flee the floodwater, wildlife experts said.