Kaziranga Floods: 83 Animals, Including 7 Rhinos, Killed

Guwahati, July 19, 2019:

The latest wave of floods in the state of Assam has left a trail of destruction in its wake. Over 50 lakh people in as many as 29 districts have been affected due to the floods, and many high-profile celebrities have sent their "hopes and prayers" for the people of Assam suffering due to the calamity of floods.

Although rescue and relief measures are underway, the suffering of animals has largely been overlooked.

Over in Upper Assam, the animals of the famous Kaziranga National Park are also in a fix. After 95% of the Park was submerged in water, many of the animals tried to escape to the higher lands on the Karbi Anglong side of the park. However, life was not too kind to these animals.

Soon, pictures started emerging of Kaziranga animals which had been run over by vehicles along the NH-37 (alarmingly, fourteen deer have been run over by speeding vehicles so far). Moreover, many animals have also drowned in the park.

As per official records, as many as fifty 83 animals have died as a result of floods and many carcasses of endangered animals (such as the one-horned rhino) have been recovered. 7 rhinos and 2 rhino babies have also been killed. It may be mentioned that 6 of the rhinos died as a result of drowning.

Meanwhile, a 90-kg Royal Bengal tiger was captured on camera yesterday when it was sleeping on the bed of a scrap shop it had entered to escape the floods, to everyone's utter amazement.

Moreover, images of rhinos resting on patches of land to seek respite from the fury of floods has caught the attention of people.

However, this is not the first time that the majestic animals have been killed due to floods. Back in 2017, at least nine rhinos (and 124 animals overall) were killed due to floods.

Speaking to Inside Northeast, animal rights activist Bhaskar Deb Konwar says: "Floods in Kaziranga is a yearly event. The Govt should formulate a long term policy for proper management to ensure safety of the animals during floods.Suggestions like building high lands inside the park and not to block the animal path to the nearby hills shall be immediately implemented.The way the animals have lost their lives due to floods is highly deplorable."

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