Assam floods: Two more rhinos die in Kaziranga national park

GUWAHATI: The number of animal casualties at Kaziranga National Park (KNP) increased to 51 from 30 in the last 24 hours as more carcasses, including two of rhinos, surfaced on Wednesday.
Of the five rhinos killed so far, four drowned and one got killed after falling in a pit. Besides, eight hog deer died after drowning, three were knocked down by vehicles, four perished during treatment at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) and as many died of exhaustion while escaping the floods. Two carcasses each of sambars and wild boars were also found on Wednesday.
Altogether 57 animals - 49 hog deer, two rhino calves, one elephant calf, one sambar and three other animals - were rescued by forest officials and the CWRC.
KNP officials said though the water level in Kaziranga receded by 65 cm on Wednesday, 169 out of 199 anti-poaching camps are still inundated. Till Monday, the water level was above three feet at several places inside the park. "The water level is expected to go down further as there has been no rain in the last 24 hours," said a KNP official.
A large number of rhinos, elephants and deer have taken shelter on the highlands of adjoining Karbi Anglong hills when the floods peaked inside the park. Besides, many rhinos and wild buffaloes have moved to the 33-odd highlands constructed by the forest department inside the park over the last two years.
Forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya said the newly constructed highlands have provided major relief to the flood-hit animals. "We are constantly monitoring the situation. KNP officials are on alert to avert any poaching attempt," he added. The forest department had constructed 33 highlands inside the park to provide refuge to animals after 400 animals, including 31 rhinos, died in the 2017 floods.
Kaziranga is home to two-third of the world's rhino population.