Guwahati: The death toll at the Kaziranga National Park(KNP), a World Heritage site which hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses and thousands of animals, birds have lost around 110 animals so far in the devastating floods in Assam.
A total of 10 rhinos including calves died due to drowning in the park since July 13th, 2019. Around 77 hog deer, seven sambars, six wild boars, five swamp deer, elephants, wild buffalo died due to drowning, vehicle hit while escaping from the floodwaters in the park.
As per the authorities, they have recorded a 130 cm fall in the water level at the park even as much as 70 per cent of KNP remains underwater. The forest officials are maintaining a strict vigil against poachers who usually attempt to take advantage amid the chaos during a deluge. Animals in the park are also reportedly facing food crisis compelling them to go out of the park.
As Assam is battling the flood fury, a number of photographs, visuals of the animals floating, getting submerged in the floodwaters have appeared on the social media platforms triggering a huge response from the netizens and wildlife lovers.
On July 16th, 2019, a video of a deer wading through deep waters in the park surfaced and went viral on the internet. Visuals of exhausted rhinos taking a rest on highlands at the KNP melted the hearts of the netizens.
In another instance on July 18th, 2019, a Royal Bengal Tiger was spotted ‘relaxing’ on a bed inside a house near the National Highway-37. Locals people and forest officials created a safe escape route for her.
On the other hand, amid the chaos, a number of top politicians, bureaucrats, cricketers, Bollywood biggies have extended their helping hands and showed great concern for the deluge even as rescue operations are going on by the concerned authorities at the park.
