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| Floods displace hundreds of animals |
| Cycle rickshawmen find it hard to push their vehicles in a waterlogged area of Dimapur, Assam, after a heavy rainfall
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| INDIA
, 4-August-2007
2:44:7 AM |
| Hundreds of animals in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam were displaced after flood waters of the Brahmaputra submerged about 80 per cent of the park area. A number of animals were run over by speeding vehicles as they crossed the national highway to safer places, while several were drowned. The park authorities have rescued several animals from drowning.
The floods have claimed 23 human lives in the State and affected 63.51 lakh people in 5,326 villages. So far 1.17 lakh people have taken shelter in 523 relief camps. Flood waters have destroyed crops on 3.44 lakh hectares and damaged 1,285 houses.
The flood situation in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in central Assam’s Morigaon district remained critical. The entire park area and the road leading to it have remained submerged since July 23. The park has the highest concentration of one-horned rhinoceros. The animals have taken shelter on the three highlands. The authorities rescued two rhinoceros calves on Thursday. Three wild boar calves drowned.
Divisional Forest Officer (Kaziranga) Bankim Sarma told The Hindu that seven hog deer had been killed by speeding vehicles. A rhino, a swamp deer, three hog deer and three wild boar were drowned till Friday.
The park authorities rescued 17 flood-hit and distressed hog deer and they were being treated at the Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.
He said 885 hog deer, 112 elephants and 50 wild buffaloes crossed over to National Highway No 37, which passes through the park area to the highlands of Karbi Anglong on the southern side. The highway touches the park over a stretch of 30 km.
“The situation is not alarming. Kaziranga needs floods of this intensity to maintain its eco-system. Flood waters have washed away hyacinth from numerous water bodies. This would help to increase the fish population and other aquatic animals for migratory birds. Sludge left by flood waters is essential for maintenance of grassland in the park,” Mr. Sarma said.
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