Assam floods: 131 wild animals, including 6 rhinos, dead in Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga (Assam): A devastating flood has claimed the lives of 131 wild animals, including six rhinos, in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, as reported by the park authorities on Monday.

Wildlife Casualties
The Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, Sonali Ghosh, stated that among the casualties were six rhinos, 100 hog deer, and two sambar, all of which drowned in floodwaters. Additionally, 17 hog deer, one swamp deer, one rhesus macaque, and one otter pup died under care, and two hog deer were killed by vehicles.

Rescue Efforts
Despite the grim situation, the park authority and the forest department have managed to rescue 97 wild animals during the floods. The floodwaters have also inundated 69 out of 233 forest camps in the park.

Impact on Forest Camps
"22 forest camps under the Kaziranga range, 20 camps under the Bagori range, 14 camps under the Agratoli range, 4 each in Burapahar, Bokakhat, and Nagaon Wildlife Division, and one camp under the Biswanath Wildlife Division are currently underwater," the park authority detailed. Due to the flooding, four forest camps, including two each in the Kaziranga range and Bokakhat range, have been vacated.

Human Casualties and Flood Impact
The Assam floods have also taken a toll on human life, with eight deaths reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 66 this year. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, two people each from Dhurbi and Nalbari districts and one each from Cachar, Goalpara, Dhemaji, and Sivasagar lost their lives in the floods. Over 27.74 lakh people across 28 districts remain affected by the flood.

Ongoing Rescue Operations
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire & Emergency Services, and local administration are actively engaged in rescue operations in the flood-hit areas.

(With agency inputs)