PICS: Flood claims 200 wildlife in India

Around 200 wild animals died in flood waters in India’s Kaziranga national park.

Peerzada Arshad Hamid

New Delhi – Around 200 wild animals died in flood waters that inundated Kaziranga national park in India's northeastern state of Assam, officials said.

“Carcasses of 13 rhinos have been recovered so far in Kaziranga,” Subhasis Das, Divisional Forest officer of Kaziranga national park told the media on Monday. “ Over 152 hog deers also died in the flood.” According to wildlife officials, 12 hog deers were killed by speeding vehicles during the floods at the national highway.

Assam was hit by a massive flood last week, which affected over 1.8 million people in state's 22 districts.

The flood water submerged large swathes of Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

Though officials said herds of wild animals, including elephants, were seen swimming and struggling to reach highlands in Kaziranga National Park, some of them were swept away by water. Over 80 percent of the park was submerged. Reports said over 100 wild animals, including nine rhinos, were rescued by forest officials and the locals.

The government says deluge in Assam was triggered by “unprecedented rains” this year.

The floods have claimed 28 lives in the state since July 17, and forced thousands of people to take shelter in relief camps.

Officials said the situation has started to improve with water levels receding in several rivers. People have started to return home from relief camps.

Flooding is an annual occurrence in Assam, especially during the summer monsoon.

ANA – Xinhua