The Flood fury in Assam is now taking a toll on one of the World's most protected Heritage Sites - The Kaziranga National Park.

DAMAGE

Located in between beautiful Himalayas, Dhansiri and Brahmaputra river the National Park is facing the worst floods in the past ten years.

10 Rhinos have died and more than 130 deer have lost there lives in trying to move to safer pastures.

The Forest Officials are working round the clock to save the animals and their natural habitat.

Spread across 430square kilometres area the Kaziranga is almost 80% submerged in water.

The Divisional Forest Officer Suvashish Das explains the flood impact in Kaziranga. He says, " Kaziranga's biggest problem is the shortage of grass and food for the animals. The small animals like hog deers and calf rhinos die often. Their mortality rate is very high. Even now the ones who have died are cub rhinos because they cannot swim. Around 10 rhinos have died already."

"The challenge now will be to keep the animals free from any diseases. "We have to try to keep the animals in safe zone where they feel comfortable. They have to be kept away from disease like pneumonia." added Das.



ANNUAL OCCURRENCE

He further explains, " This is a set pattern that has been seen from several years. Floods are common for Kaziranga and this is the annual flooding season. The rhinos move towards highland and mainland and that is when the cub rhinos are unable to move with them during migration for food and shelter.

As soon as the water level rises, the animals start migrating towards the southern area of Kaziranga. They cross the national highway and go towards Karbi Anglong area. They go back after the water recedes.

Grasslands go dry, so fodder is a very important issue and then theere is the fear of poaching. Once the animals are out of the reserve, they are open to the threat of being attacked or poached. So we have to work round the clock to give them protection."



PROTOCOLS FOR DIFFERENT ANIMALS

The protocol of rescue and treatment is different for every animal and differs according to there age.

Wildlife Trust of India, International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Forest Department of Assam are working to give best possible treatment to the traumatised and injured animals.

Deputy Director of Wildlife Trust of India describes, "We have different protocols for different animals. When a rhino calf is displaced, we first tranquillise him and then physically capture him through net if required. We keep them giving milk formula. We keep them here for a few years till the time they are comfortable to move back to the reserve in full health. They have to be given adequate care and assistance in the rescue centres."

But it's not just Rhinos and Deers in Kaziranga. There are cows too. More than four thousand cows have rescued in a commendable job done by Dhansiri Eco Camp. The team of two dozen people worked tirelessly daring heat and rain to bring the stranded cows to safer locations.

Gautam Saikia, the pioneer of the Eco camp states, "There are lots of problems for the cows in the flood. The biggest problem is that they can't swim and hence drown. They have to be ferried in boats due to this. Most of the cows cannot even stay in water for long unlike buffalos which can. there are a lot of islands in kaziranga where cows stay. There are around 4000 cows in the area. We have to bring them from one island to the safer locations. we work from 6am to 10 pm daring the rain and the sun and even the flood. It takes a minimum of two hours in taking one complete round."

He added, "The cows are wild and dont see anyone all year around so they behave wildly and attack when approached by anyone else besides there master. It is very difficult to catch hold of them and bring to a better highland."

Gautam puts the flood into perspective stating,"Flood is very important for Kaziranga as it helps in habitat management. Flood destroys the grass and brings it to fresh start. The elephant grass has to be destroyed naturally during floods and then it grows into suitable heights of the animals. The problem is only when the deluge is too high like this year"

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