Assam floods caused death of 511 animals in past five years

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The perennial annual floods in Assam, which result in lots of destruction of life and property, also have a big effect on the wildlife. The worst affected is the wildlife in Kaziranga National Park.

According to available information, in the last five years, a total of 847 wild animals were affected by the floods in the state, resulting in the deaths of 511 animals. However, the silver lining is that 336 animals were rescued successfully during this period.

The annual floods make a big impact on the wildlife in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), a world heritage site. Maximum casualty occurs among the deer, followed by other animals, including the pride of Assam-the one-horned rhino. Many animals move to the adjoining Karbi Anglong hills during the floods, after crossing the national highway that goes by the park. It is while crossing the highway that some of the deer perish after being hit by vehicles that do not abide by the speed limit imposed in this stretch.

According to Forest Department sources, additional Forest staffers from nearby divisions are deployed to patrol and perform flood-related duties in Kaziranga National Park. They also monitor vehicle speeds on the highway to prevent animal deaths due to vehicle collisions. Additional security forces from the police department are deployed in the districts of Golaghat, Nagaon, and Karbi Anglong. They assist forest personnel with anti-poaching duties and help mitigate human-wildlife conflict during floods.

Volunteers from NGOs and Village Defence Parties monitor animal movements and help reduce vehicle speeds on the highway along the KNPTR.

Thirty-three new highlands and road-cum-highlands have been created to provide elevated resting spaces for wild animals during floods, while vulnerable areas are barricaded.

Heavy vehicles are prohibited from using the highway at night to ensure the safe movement of wild animals during floods. Time cards are issued at various checkpoints from Burapahar to Bokakhat to regulate vehicular speed on this stretch of the highway.

Each range office has an emergency response team equipped with mobiles, wireless sets, traffic wands, and flashlights. These teams regulate vehicular traffic and facilitate wildlife migration to higher grounds outside the park.

Anti-poaching camps are equipped with country boats for regular monitoring and patrolling inside the park during floods. A flood monitoring cell and control rooms are established in all range offices and the division office in Bokakhat to monitor flood levels. Flood level scales are installed in Dhansirimukh and Difalumukh with support from the Central Water Commission to assess inundation levels.

Animal sensor systems have been installed in six locations to monitor animal movement and regulate vehicle movement accordingly. Animal movements are tracked through drones in the Karbi Anglong hills.

Also read: 4 CWC stations in Assam record extreme flood levels in 2024

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