BITUPAN BORAH

Kaziranga: Amid the gloomy monsoon mayhem claiming lives of at least 17 persons, affecting over 52 lakh people in 30 districts of Assam, with 95 per cent of the Kaziranga National Park(KNP) and 158 camps being inundated by the devastating flood, a video of a baby rhino being rescued and showered by a joint team is probably the only good thing in the internet today.

It may be mentioned that as the ravaging flood in Assam has continued to wreak havoc in Assam, the death toll in the World Heritage Site has shot up to 30 animals. The forest officials said animals residing in the park are taking shelter in the highlands within the park and many are migrating to the southern highlands of Karbi Anglong crossing the National Highway (NH) 37.

Meanwhile, a joint team led by the Wildlife Trust of India(WTI), International Fund for Animal Welfare(IFAW) and the Kaziranga National Park(KNP) on July 17th, 2019 rescued a Rhino calf from downing.

The calf was tranquillized by the veterinary before being rescued from the floodwater and sent to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation And Conservation(CWRC).

The officials are also on alert on the NH 37 in order to avoid any poaching chances by hunters. “Though 155 anti-poaching camps, out 199 such camps of the park are affected by flood water, the staffs and security personnel are performing their duties using mechanised and country boats round-the-clock to deal with any kind of eventualities,” stated a press communique by the office of State Forest and Environment Minister Parimal Suklabaidya.