90 per cent of Kaziranga National Park submerged by floodwaters

90 per cent areas of Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary submerged by floodwaters, 47 wild animals died, tiger spotted in a village

Guwahati, July 13: The flood situation in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary turned more worst on Monday after the floodwaters submerged over 90 per cent areas of the sites.

In Kaziranga, due to the deluge, many wild animals including one-horned rhino, deer, elephant have taken shelter at highlands constructed inside the park and many animals come outside the park and moved towards the nearby Karbi Anglong hills area.

The park authority and district administration have restricted speed limit of all vehicles on National Highway 37 which is passing through the national park.

According to the Kaziranga National Park authority, the floodwaters have submerged over 90 per cent of the park areas and 166 anti-poaching camps out of 223 camps are now underwater.

The park authority has vacated seven anti-poaching camps due to the current flood situation.

The park authority said that, 47 wild animals including one rhino, 41 hog deer, three wild boar have died due to flood.

On Monday, a tiger was spotted in a village area near the Kaziranga National Park.

According to the reports, a sub-adult has entered inside a goat shed of a villager at Kandolimari village located near the park.

Due to the rise of water, the tiger comes outside the park and has taken shelter in the area.

The forest officials have rushed to the area to rescue the tiger.

On the other hand, floodwaters have submerged the National Highway 37 at many places in Kaziranga National Park.

In Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district, over 80 per cent areas of the wildlife sanctuary have been submerged by floodwaters.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Ranger Mukul Tamuli said that, the wildlife sanctuary has been affected by floods third time within two months.

12 anti-poaching camps out of 24 camps of the wildlife sanctuary are now underwater. We have shifted one camp due to flood. One rhino drowned in floodwaters during the second wave of flood on June 29,” Mukul Tamuli said.

Assam is a home to the largest population of greater-one horned rhinos, with more than 2600 rhinos.

The Rhino Population Estimation report, 2018 stated that the total number of rhinos in Kaziranga National Park counted 2,413 rhinos and 102 rhinos found in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.