GUWAHATI, July 11: The devastating floods in Assam’s famed Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) have claimed the lives of 174 wild animals, including 10 endangered one-horned rhinos, while 135 others have been rescued till Thursday, a senior official of the KNPTR said.

50 per cent of the park area is still under floods even as the water level is receding gradually in the park, KNPTR director Sonali Ghosh said.

Apart from 10 rhinos, there are 144 hog deer and 2 sambar, she said.

Altogether 135 animals were rescued by forest personnel from flood water, and 116 were released after treatment. Seven animals are still under treatment.

46 out of 233 forest camps are still under floodwater.

“We analysed data and this year has been the highest flood level (as per CWC data) in the last 10 years,” Ghosh said.

“2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 were no or low flood years in the national park,” she said.
Kaziranga witnessed high floods on July 1 with the water level of the Brahmaputra flowing at 87.47 metres.

According to the CWC shared by the park authorities, the water level of the river was 87.35 metres in 2020, 87.13 metres in 2019 and 87.27 metres in 2017.

The rhino mortality was 24 in 2017, 21 in 2019 and 19 in 2020 during the flood years.

Forest employees including security personnel stay in camps inside the national park to conduct patrolling for the protection of flora and fauna.

The movement of the vehicles has been restricted through National Highway 37 for the security of the wildlife, as they cross the highway stretch to take shelter in the highlands due to the floods.

“Boat patrolling has also been intensified for the security of the wildlife,” the official added.
In central Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, the water level is rising leading to flooding in 90 per cent of the forest area.

“The water level was receding in the last week. But once again the water level is rising from last night and presently, 90 per cent of the area is under floodwater,” said a forest official of the Wildlife Sanctuary.

“All 28 forest camps, apart from the headquarters camp are under floodwater,” the official said.

He said there is no casualty in the Wildlife Sanctuary, but the animals will have to face a food crisis if such a situation continues.

“Boat patrolling also intensified for rescue and security of the wild animals,” he added.
In Orang National Park, the floodwater washed away Ramkong Watch Tower besides damaging two other forest camps- Baghbari AP camp and Kathgorah AP camp.
Of 49 forest camps, 10 are still under floodwater.

4 animals died by drowning while 16 others were rescued by forest officials.

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