Flood waters recede, Assam Forest department faces challenges to provide security to wild animals in Kaziranga
Guwahati/IBNS: Three days of sunshine has given some relief to the people of Assam as the water level of major rivers in the state is now receding.
But over 12 lakh people of 20 districts are still affected in the current wave of flood in the state.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), on Thursday one person drowned in flood waters in Goalpara district taking the death toll to 34 this year so far.
Along with other parts of the state, flood water is also receding in Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife sanctuary.
But many challenges are still imposed upon the park authorities and state forest department to provide security to the wild animals.
26 wild animals including two one horned rhinos died during the flood situation in Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary so far.
According to the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) authority, 25 wild animals including 21 hog deer, two wild boars died in this flood in the world heritage site.
Eight hog deer died after being vehicle hit on National Highway 37 while the wild animals came out from the national park towards nearby Karbi hills areas by crossing the highway which is passing through the park.
73 camps out of total 223 camps in the national park are still under water and the flood forced the park authority to vacate six camps.
On the other hand, more than 50 percent areas in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary are still under water and the forest personnel are keeping constant vigil to provide security to the wild animals including rhinos in the wildlife sanctuary.
A forest guard of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary said that, they are keeping 24 hours vigil on the animals.
“During the flood situation, many animals go outside of the sanctuary and we are monitoring for this not to happen,” the forest guard said.
The poachers attempt to kill wild animals including one horned rhino during the flood time when the animals come out to search safer places.
On the other hand, Assam Forest minister Primal Suklabaidya on Thursday visited Pobitora National Park and took stock the current flood situation.
The Assam Forest minister said that the wildlife sanctuary authority and state Forest department are trying to provide safeguard to the wild animals.
“One rhino drowned in flood waters in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. The water level is now gradually decreasing in Kaziranga and Pobitora. But wild animals have still faced lot of problems and we are trying to provide safeguard to the wild animals,” Parimal Suklabaidya said.
Suklabaidya further said that, many animals have taken shelter in highlands constructed inside the park, sanctuary and the state Forest department will construct more highlands for the animals.
The Assam Forest minister said that, the centre has already sanctioned to construct more highlands for the animals in the state.
(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)
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