GUWAHATI: The number of animal casualties in Kaziranga National Park has gone up to 141, after 31 more bodies, including two rhino carcasses were found on Saturday, July 20.
It should be noted that 60% of the park’s sq km area is still under water, but flood levels have dropped to 142 cm. Between July 13 and July 15, the flood level at many places inside the park had crossed the five feet mark.
Until Saturday, 12 rhinos died due to the floods, 11 of whom were mostly calves who drowned. Another rhino died after falling in a pit.
101 hog deer, one of the smallest deer species, have also perished. 71 of these hog deer species died due to drowning, 15 due to being hit by vehicles, 10 due to exhaustion and injuries and five during treatment.
Nine wild boar, nine sambar, six swamp deer, two porcupine, one elephant and one wild buffalo also died due to the floods.
Presently, eight animals, including two rhino calves are under veterinary care of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)-International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)’s Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Kaziranga.
Officials from Kaziranga have mentioned that 64 animals, including an elephant were rescued by forest official teams and CWRC teams since July 13. 52 of those animals have also already been released.
(Inputs Times of India)
