Assam floods spell disaster for Kaziranga animals

Guwahati, July 9: The Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage Site and famous for its one-horned rhinoceros, has been reeling under the flood waters. Several animals have been forced to move to higher areas while many have perished.

The park authorities are patrolling amid all difficulties to protect the animals from flood water and poachers.

The movement by the animals makes them vulnerable to poachers. Last year, a large number of rhinos and other animals fell prey to poaching while they were moving towards the Karbi Hills after crossing National Highway 37. This time also, the movement of the animals due to the floods has cautioned the forest officials and conservationists.

The fact that most of the area outside the park was unguarded has added to the tension about the animals' safety. Last year, 573 animals died while over a thousand got displaced.

Park authorities said protecting the animals outside the park premises wasn't their responsibility and they were speaking to the police and local authorities to ensure safety for the animals. They also added that they were better prepared to tackle the situation this time.

There are about 150 camps inside the park and they have been alerted, besides being equipped with motor boats.

The northern area of the park reportedly was flooded but the situation could worsen further if the Dibrugarh town gets flooded. The rising water level there has been a cause of worry.

Meanwhile, over 1 lakh people in the state have been rendered homeless by the floods. The river Brahmaputra and its tributaries have swollen up because of heavy rainfall and it has worsened the flood situation in the state. Eleven of the 27 districts in the state have been badly hit by the floods.

OneIndia News