Floods in India’s northeastern state of Assam have killed 167 wild animals, says forest officials on Tuesday.
The officials said that the deaths was reported in Kaziranga national park, whose over 90 per cent of the area was inundated.
“167 animals including 16 rhinos were killed in the Kaziranga national park due to floods.
“The forest department and other agencies have rescued 64 animals so far,” wildlife officials said.
In 2018 census, the park had 2,413 rhinos, Kaziranga was home to world’s largest number of one horned rhinos.
According to forest officials, a strict vigil was being maintained by the forest guards to prevent poaching.
The officials said that out of 199 anti-poaching camps, 27 were still submerged.
As the waters entered the park, some animals have taken shelter on platforms constructed for their safety during the floods.
Wildlife officials said following the improvement in flood situation in the park, the rhinos and other animals have started to return to the grasslands.
The one horned rhinos is the major attraction at Kaziranga park spread over 434 sqkm area.
Park authorities said apart from rhinos, the killed wild animals include over 100 hog deers, 13 sambars, 17 wild boars and an elephant.
Reports said in 2017 flooding, over 400 animals including 31 rhinos were killed.
The recent floods in Assam and Bihar affected millions of people, besides claiming over 150 human lives.
Floods are an annual occurrence in Assam during the monsoon season.
