Guwahati: Floods in Assam have submerged a total of 44 anti-poaching camps in Kaziranga National Park.
According to park officials, about 18 percent of the park has been flooded as a result of the rising flood levels in the area.
The government has reported that 44 of the park’s 223 anti-poaching camps have been submerged by the Brahmaputra River’s flood floods, despite taking aggressive and necessary precautions to preserve the wild animals. 14 camps are part of the Agoratoli wildlife range, 8 are part of the Biswanath wildlife division, 6 are part of the Kaziranga and Burapahar range, and 5 are part of the Bagori range.
According to ANI, four wild animals were killed, including a leopard and three hog deer while one died while undergoing treatment as a result of flood-related occurrences.
The Bokakhat sub-divisional magistrate has imposed various restrictions, regulated vehicle speed in the stretch of NH-37 starting from Panbari animal corridor to district/sub-divisional western boundary near Bagori in the exercise of powers conferred U/S 144 Cr. P.C. in view of the possible flood situation in the Kaziranga National Park and to protect human lives as well as the lives of wild animals during the emergent situation.
Ramesh Gogoi, DFO of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve conveyed to ANI, “The animals are yet to come out of the park, but we are on alert. Four animals, including a leopard, died in vehicle-related events on May 12. The water level in the park is rising, and if the Brahmaputra River continues to rise, it will inundate additional portions of the park.” The situation in Kaziranga is very dire.
In addition, one hog deer drowned, another died during treatment, three were killed in traffic accidents, and two died of old age or sickness. According to KNP Director Jatindra Sarma, one leopard was also killed in a road accident.
The park now contains a total of 144 man-made hills, including 33 huge shelters, where the animals may seek safety when floodwaters rise. However, if the flood situation worsens, they will not be enough to shelter all of the animals.